Final answer:
Interviews are considered primary sources because they involve direct observation and firsthand information collection from the source. They provide unfiltered insights, making them essential for primary research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Interviews are considered primary sources because they involve direct observation and gathering information directly from the source. Whether you're interviewing the subject of your research directly or someone closely related to the subject, the data you obtain from interviews is firsthand, thus qualifying as a primary source. These interviews can provide insights and data that are not filtered or interpreted by other researchers, making them a valuable component of primary research.
When you engage in field research, such as conducting interviews or making direct observations, you are collecting data that nobody else has interpreted or altered. This form of data collection is essential to understand the subject in its authentic context. While background research is important for informing your understanding and formulating better interview questions, it does not change the fact that the interviews themselves are primary sources. Additionally, field observation notes and recordings directly made during the interviews can serve as crucial primary data for your research project.