What is a Scholarly Source?
A scholarly source is a publication, such as a journal, that includes papers and articles which document and discuss the results of original research. This is one of the primary methods used by researchers to communicate the results of their research to others in their field of study. Consequently the language used is often technical and discipline specific. The research is submitted to the publisher in a format which includes the methodology used to conduct the research and the results of the research. Sources are documented in a bibliography and the credentials of the author(s) are given in the paper. The scholarly source publishes the research after it has gone through a process of review by a panel of experts in that specific field of study, and has fulfilled the requirements of a scholarly article.
What is a Popular source?
A popular source is a publication, such as a newspaper or magazine that you could buy in a grocery store. It includes papers and articles reporting current events or summarizing general research. It is one of the primary methods used to communicate information to the public. Articles are usually a short overview of a topic presented in everyday language. It is often illustrated with pictures and advertisements. The information is written by journalists and they are often unnamed. Sources may be quoted, but there are no bibliographies.
Characteristics of Popular Magazines and Scholarly Journals
| Popular Magazines | Scholarly Journals | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose: | Report current events Entertain Summarize research of general interest |
Report results of research |
| Audience: | General population | Scholars, researchers and students in a particular field of study |
| Authors: | Journalists Often unnamed |
Researchers Always named |
| Characteristics: | Short | Long (5 pages+); Frequently shorter in the sciences |
| Pictures, advertisements | Describe research methodologies | |
| No citations (sources) | Citations | |
| Everyday language | Technical or specialized | |
| Not peer reviewed* | Peer reviewed* | |
| *Peer reviewed articles are those that have been reviewed and accepted for publication in a journal by a selected panel of recognized experts in the field of study covered by that journal. | ||
Is My Article Scholarly?
If it is, most of the following will be true.
- Is the article written by experts (scholars) in the field?
- Author’s name is always included in scholarly articles.
- Is the article written for experts (scholars) in the field?
- Articles written for the general public are NOT scholarly.
- Does the article report the results of research or does it analyze or interpret other research studies?
- Often scholarly articles include a description of research methods.
- Is the article long?
- Scholarly articles tend to be long (more than five pages in the humanities and more than two pages in the sciences).
- Does the article have a bibliography?
- Scholarly articles always have a bibliography.
- Does the article title contain technical language?
- e.g. "Nonparametric Regression Techniques in Economics"
- Does the title of the journal seem to be very specialized?
- e.g. Journal of Applied Physics or Historical Methods
- Does the journal have an editorial policy that includes peer review?
- Peer reviewed articles have been assessed by other experts in the field before publication.
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