Exercise 6: Primary and Secondary Sources

You're writing a research paper on the problem of homelessness in your town or city. Which of the following sources would be a primary source for you and which a secondary?

Exercise 6-1-Question 1-Writing Exercises-Primary and Secondary Sources

A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: "Drifting Apart: New Findings on Growing Income Disparities Between the Rich, the Poor, and the Middle Class," 1990?

Primary source

Incorrect.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Secondary source

Correct.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Exercise 6-2-Question 2-Primary and Secondary Sources

An interview with two homeless persons in your town?

Primary source

Correct.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a primary source, because these sources have first-hand knowledge of or raw data on your topic.

Secondary source

Incorrect.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a primary source, because these sources have first-hand knowledge of or raw data on your topic.

Exercise 6-3-Question 3-Primary and Secondary Sources

A book entitled "The Undeserving Poor: From the War on Poverty to the War on Welfare," by Michael Katz, 1989?

Primary Source

Incorrect.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Secondary source

Correct.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Exercise 6-4-Question 4-Primary and Secondary Sources

An article entitled, "The Culture of Poverty," in" On Understanding Poverty: Perspectives from the Social Sciences"?

Primary source

Incorrect.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Secondary source

Correct.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Exercise 6-5-Question 5-Primary and Secondary Sources

An interview with a sociology professor who teaches a course that explores the problem of homelessness?

Primary source

Incorrect.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Secondary source

Correct.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Exercise 6-6-Question 6-Primary and Secondary Sources

A book by Karl Marx entitled, "Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, 1887"?

Primary source

Incorrect.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Secondary source

Correct.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a secondary source.

Exercise 6-7-Question 7-Primary and Secondary Sources

Statistics on the number of homeless in New York state from the state census office?

Primary source

Correct.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a primary source, because these sources have first-hand knowledge of or raw data on your topic.

Secondary source

Incorrect.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a primary source, because these sources have first-hand knowledge of or raw data on your topic.

Exercise 6-8-Question 8-Primary and Secondary Sources

An interview with the head of a homeless shelter?

Primary source

Correct.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a primary source, because these sources have first-hand knowledge of or raw data on your topic.

Secondary source

Incorrect.

This is analyzing and interpreting data from a primary source, because these sources have first-hand knowledge of or raw data on your topic.

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