A-level Critical Thinking/Sources and types of evidence

History

 * Primary sources – sources from the time or period of study
 * Secondary sources – sources not from the time of study. These can include books with primary sources that have been processed and analysed by historians.

Sociology

 * Primary evidence –new evidence collected as part of research
 * Secondary evidence – all other evidence such as government statistics.
 * First-hand evidence – eyewitness accounts from those who have directly observed an event.
 * Second hand-evidence – hearsay, evidence from those that have heard an account.
 * Direct evidence – eyewitness evidence.
 * Circumstantial evidence - non-direct evidence from which something can be inferred.
 * Statistics – can they be trusted?
 * Participant observation – does it affect behaviour?
 * Interviews – Does interview style affect the responses gained?
 * Questionnaires – Are they representative and will people be honest?