What does secondary literature typically do with primary literature?

Secondary literature plays a crucial role in the scientific community by interpreting and simplifying the findings of primary literature. Primary literature consists of original research reports that present new data, methodologies, and experimental results. However, primary literature can be dense and technical, making it challenging for readers to extract key insights.

Secondary literature serves to analyze, summarize, and contextualize this original research, allowing a broader audience to understand the implications of the findings without needing to delve into the complexities of the primary studies. By providing interpretations, critiques, and comparisons to other studies, secondary literature enhances the accessibility of the information, supporting further discussion and exploration of the topic.

Overall, this function of secondary literature is essential in fostering knowledge dissemination and facilitating the advancement of research fields by synthesizing the wealth of information generated by primary studies.