Final answer:
Excerpts from novels are considered fictional sources. Primary sources are original documents or objects from the time being studied, while secondary sources analyze primary sources. Evaluating the credibility, perspective, and historical context of sources is crucial in historical research. The correct answer is option 2) fictional.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking to categorize extracts taken from novels and to discuss the nature of certain research sources in the discipline of history. When you consider excerpts from novels, they are fictional sources. These are created from an author's imagination and, while they may convey themes or historical contexts, they are not factual reports of events, and thus, they would not be considered primary or secondary sources in the context of historical research.
Primary sources are documents or physical objects that were written or created during the time under study. They can include letters, reports, records, photographs, or original research. Secondary sources interpret and analyze primary sources. They are one or more steps removed from the event and might include scholarly books and peer-reviewed articles.
When conducting historical research, it is vital to evaluate a source's reliability, perspective, and relevancy to the historical context. The author's purpose, any potential bias, the factual basis of the information presented, as well as the recency and perspectives offered by the sources must all be carefully considered to determine the credibility and utility of the information they provide.