In health sciences, primary research and secondary research articles refers to the types of research and analysis done.

Primary research articles:

• Report and analyze results from a single original study conducted by the authors of the study
• Common primary research article types:
  • Randomized controlled trials
  • Cohort studies
  • Clinical trials
• Example abstract from a primary research article

Secondary research articles:

• Summarize and critically analyze others' research
• The authors will describe a process like using specific search terms in various databases to find their research
• Common secondary research article types:
  • Literature reviews (primary research articles may contain a literature review section, but the entirety of the article will not be dedicated to this - read the methods section when in doubt)
  • Systematic reviews
  • Meta-analyses
• Example abstract from a secondary research article

Let's explore the different in primary vs. secondary research by looking at the following research question, "What is the effect that text messaging programs have on medication adherence for people living with HIV?"

Researchers might explore this research question by conducting a randomized controlled trial where some participants receive text message reminders to take their meds and other participants do not. They would then compare the results between the different groups and report their methods and findings in a primary research article.

Authors of a secondary research article critically analyze the results of multiple primary research articles exploring the same research question. For example, the authors might look at all randomized controlled trials conducted in a specific time frame with the same research question to identify research gaps, compare results, and look at commonalities between conclusions.

This video further explains the differences between primary and secondary articles in health sciences. Remember, your assignment requires peer-reviewed articles, so even if you have found a primary source, you'll need to take the extra step of determining that it is peer-reviewed.

After you search for your topic, explore the abstract of an article. The authors' research methods will indicate if the research is primary or secondary. Google Scholar and Ovid Nutrition and Health do not allow for filtering by article type, so analyzing the language used in the article's abstract is a good way to determine if you're looking at primary or secondary research.

Example of primary research in Ovid Nutrition and Health:

Example of secondary research in Ovid Nutrition and Health:

Another tip is using article filters in databases like PubMed or CINAHL to limit your results to primary research! See the video in the box below for a more detailed explanation of using filters in PubMed.

This video describes the process of using filters to find primary research in PubMed.

While you are a student at Wayne State, always enter PubMed using the PubMed@Wayne link through our library website. This ensures you're accessing our subscription resources and lowers the likelihood of hitting a paywall!