How do I find "primary" research studies for Biology?

Answered By: Reference Staff

Last Updated: Mar 09, 2023 Views: 211

There are many databases listed on our Biology Research Guide that will identify, and in many cases, provide full-text journal articles that would be considered "primary research studies" or "primary sources."

In the sciences, a primary source is a document that provides a first-hand description of original research. An example of a primary source is a scholarly journal article in which scientists describe and detail their research on the human immune system.
Because even scholarly publications include not only research articles but also commentary, editorials, letters, review articles and other content that would NOT qualify as a research study, it's important to recognize the attributes of a research article.
You can find primary research articles on biology topics using JEWL Search or by using some of the biology databases listed on MTSU Library's Biology Research Guide (see below). There is usually not a search limiter for "primary sources" or "research articles," so you will need to look at each item you select to ensure it meets the criteria of a primary source.
The guide below from Suffolk University can help you learn how to recognize the attributes of a research article.

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Video: How to Find a Primary Research Article