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Ed.D. and Graduate EDU Programs Research Guide: Primary Research

A guide to support students in our graduate Education programs.

What is Primary / Original Research?

 

 

Primary, or original, research sources refer to direct or firsthand evidence about an event, object, person, or work. These sources are considered authoritative and original, and they haven't been distorted by time, interpretation, or evaluation.

This page focuses on identifying and locating original research articles. Check the box on the right side of the page below for more information about other types of primary sources.

Click the image of the Venn diagram on the left to enlarge it.

Identifying Primary Research Articles

Primary source research articles report on an original study conducted by the authors. They have distinct features that set them apart from other types of articles, such as reviews:

  1. Structured Format: These articles typically follow a structured format, often divided into sections like Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion.

  2. Research Questions or Hypotheses: The authors will present a specific question or hypothesis they sought to answer or test.

  3. Detailed Methodology: The article will provide an in-depth description of how the study was conducted, including information on participants, materials, procedures, and data analysis techniques.

  4. Results: This section will present the findings of the study, often with tables, graphs, and statistical analyses.

  5. Discussion: The authors will interpret the results, compare them with existing literature, and suggest implications or further research.

  6. References: Original research articles will have a list of references or bibliography, indicating where they sourced their information and contextualizing their study within the broader field.

It's not always easy to determine if an article contains primary, original research. Below are some tips that can make the process easier:

  • Use academic research databases! The purpose of many of these databases is to store original research and make it searchable. There will often be search filters, content labels, and/or descriptions that allow you to only see original research articles in your search results. Look for the terms "scholarly research" or "peer-reviewed articles."
  • Browse through specific journals. As you search for scholarly literature, take note of which journals publish research that's relevant to your research agenda. You can search for specific titles by using Journal Finder.
  • Be critical in your assessment. While original research articles provide crucial firsthand accounts of studies, it's essential to critically assess each one. Check for the credibility of the journal, potential biases, the validity of the methodology, and the overall impact and relevance of the findings to your research.
    • One quick way to learn more about a journal is to search the web with the title. It should be easy to locate the journal's homepage with information about its content, aims, and scope.

Examples

Examples of Primary Sources

The 3 articles below are primary sources. They all include research methodology and present the author's original research findings.

Deepa, V., Sujatha, R., & Baber, H. (2022). Moderating role of attention control in the relationship between academic distraction and performance. Higher Learning Research Communications, 12(1), 64–80. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1346084
Akkaya Yilmaz, M. (2021). A study on environmental literacy levels of social studies teacher candidates. Review of International Geographical Education, 11(1), 21–42. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1298258
Pupíková, E., Gonda, D., Páleníková, K., Medová, J., Kolárová, D., & Tirpáková, A. (2021). How kindergarten teachers assess their own professional competencies. Education Sciences, 11. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1323053

 

NOT Primary Sources

The 3 articles below are not primary sources. They do not include an original research methodology nor data from research the author themselves conducted.

Franzese, A. T., & Felten, P. (2017). Reflecting on reflecting: Scholarship of teaching and learning as a tool to evaluate contemplative pedagogies. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 11(1). https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1136118

Capello, S. (2023). Supporting Ed.D. scholar-practitioners through the Covid-19 pandemic using an ethic of care. Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice, 8(1), 37–40. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1382241

Gruer, T. S., & Perry, K. M. (2020). Yes, school librarians teach reading: Reading skill reinforcement and the school librarian. Knowledge Quest, 48(5), 40–47. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1252591

Other Types of Primary Sources

Data Sets: Raw, unanalyzed data collected for research purposes.

Interviews: Conversations, typically in person or over the phone, where information is obtained from experts or participants.

Observations: Notes and records taken from live events or situations, such as classroom observations.

Surveys and Questionnaires: Tools used to gather data from a sample group.

Educational Policies and Documents: Official documents from educational institutions or governmental bodies.

Teaching Materials and Curricula: Original instructional materials used in classrooms.