EON RESEARCH LIBRARY // Article

Separating a primary study from a review article

A primary study reports an investigation, while a review discusses a body of literature. Both can be useful, but they should not be described as the same kind of evidence.

For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.

When a review points to a specific experiment, follow the underlying citation before making a detailed claim about that experiment. Keep the review as context and the primary study as the source for what was actually measured.

Reading checklist

Identify the publication type
Follow the underlying study citation
Attribute specific findings to the primary source

Reference: Analytical reference materials.

Sources and further reading

NIST: reference material categories

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