what is a characteristic of a primary source
Characteristics of Primary Sources Primary sources can either be first-hand observation/analysis, or accounts contemporary with the events described. Primary sources document events, people, viewpoints of the time. When research is more era, rather than event driven, scope of possible primary sources broadens considerably. Primary sources represent one person's perspective; frequently will be used with secondary/tertiary sources to broaden the lens through which a researcher is looking at an event, era, or phenomenon.