What Is a Secondary Source and Why It Matters
A secondary source in academic research is a source you cite not because you read the original work directly, but because you encountered it being cited or discussed in another source you did read. For example, if you are reading a journal article by Rashid (2022) and he cites an important study by Vygotsky (1978), and you want to reference that Vygotsky idea in your own thesis, you have two options: track down and read the original Vygotsky text yourself, or use it as a secondary source — citing it through Rashid’s discussion of it.
Secondary sources in APA citation are a real and recognised part of academic referencing, but they come with important limitations and specific formatting rules. Misusing secondary sources — or failing to format them correctly — is a surprisingly common error in Malaysian postgraduate theses, and one that examiners notice.
The General Rule: Always Try to Read the Original First
Before reaching for secondary source citation, the strong academic norm is to locate and read the original source directly. Secondary citations should be used sparingly — they are a last resort, not a shortcut. If Vygotsky’s work is central to your theoretical framework, you should read it yourself rather than relying on Rashid’s summary of it. Rashid may have summarised selectively, interpreted it through a particular lens, or even introduced an error. By citing through Rashid, you inherit whatever limitations exist in his reading of the original.
Most foundational texts in education, psychology, management, and social sciences are available through your university library, interlibrary loan, or legitimate academic databases. If a source is not available through any of these channels and you genuinely cannot access the original, that is a reasonable justification for using a secondary citation. But “I could not find it easily” is not sufficient — make a real effort to locate the original before resorting to secondary source citation in APA.
How to Format Secondary Sources Correctly in APA 7th
APA 7th has a specific format for secondary source citations. In the text, you cite the original source and identify the secondary source that led you to it. The format is: Original Author (Year, as cited in Secondary Author, Year).
For example: Vygotsky (1978, as cited in Rashid, 2022) argued that learning occurs through social interaction before becoming internalised.
Note that in this format, only the secondary source — Rashid (2022) — appears in your reference list. You do not add Vygotsky to your reference list because you did not read Vygotsky’s work directly. APA is very clear about this: your reference list should only contain sources you personally consulted. Adding Vygotsky’s original text to your reference list when you only read Rashid’s discussion of it would be academically misleading.
Common Mistakes Malaysian Students Make With Secondary Sources
The most common mistake with secondary sources in APA citation among Malaysian thesis writers is including the original source in the reference list while citing it as a secondary source in the text. This looks like an inconsistency to examiners — either you read the original (in which case it goes in your reference list and you cite it directly) or you did not (in which case it does not appear in your reference list and you use the “as cited in” format). Mixing these approaches signals confusion about the citation rules.
Another common mistake is using “as cited in” for sources that are readily available and should simply be read directly. If your thesis cites ten different ideas all “as cited in” one or two secondary sources, examiners will question whether you have engaged sufficiently with the primary literature in your field. Over-reliance on secondary citation can give the impression that your literature review is shallow — built on other people’s reading rather than your own engagement with the source material.
When Secondary Sources Are Genuinely Justified
There are legitimate situations where secondary source citation in APA is appropriate and expected. Historically significant but out-of-print sources that cannot be obtained through your institution are one example. Sources published in languages you do not read and for which no translation is available are another. Unpublished internal reports or documents that were summarised in a published source you do have access to also qualify.
In some disciplines, citing classic foundational texts through the lens of a contemporary secondary source is also considered acceptable when the secondary source’s interpretation is itself the point — when you are specifically engaging with how Rashid (2022) reads Vygotsky, rather than citing Vygotsky directly. Make the distinction clear in your writing so examiners understand your intent.
Checking Your Thesis for Secondary Source Overuse
Before submission, do a search through your thesis for the phrase “as cited in”. Count how many times it appears. If it appears more than a handful of times in a single chapter, consider whether each instance is genuinely justified or whether some of those original sources can be tracked down and read directly. Replacing secondary citations with direct citations from the original sources wherever possible strengthens the credibility of your literature review.
Handling secondary sources in APA citation correctly is a mark of academic rigour. It shows that you understand the difference between what you read yourself and what you know only through someone else’s reading, and that you are transparent about that distinction in your referencing. That transparency is exactly what examiners in Malaysian universities are looking for when they evaluate the scholarly quality of your thesis.
