How to determine if a source is scholarly? (2024)

You might occasionally hear your instructors mention that you need to find “scholarly” sources. What does that mean?

The sources you find while researching can generally be placed into two different categories: popular and scholarly.

The term scholarly typically means that the source has been “peer-reviewed,” which is a lengthy editing and review process performed by scholars in the field to check for quality and validity. To determine if your source has been peer-reviewed, you can investigate the journal in which the article was published. Try going to the journal’s website and finding information about their submission & revision guidelines, or search the journal title in UlrichsWeb Global Serials Directory to learn more about it. Not every article published in a peer-reviewed journal has gone through the peer-review process, so you will need to look at the journal's publishing process and evaluate the article itself.

Examine the chart and examples below to see other characteristics you can use to determine if a source is popular or scholarly.

TraitPopularScholarly
AuthorsJournalists or freelance writersAcademics or researchers (credentials listed)
AudienceGeneral publicResearchers, academics, college students
Editing ProcessSometimes edited by staffPeer-reviewed before publication
AppearanceContains photos, illustrations, meant to entertain, shorter in lengthContains charts, graphs, references, meant to inform, longer in length
ExamplesNewsweek, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, websitesJournal of Evolutionary Biology, JAMA, The Journal of Popular Culture

Example of a Scholarly Source:

How to determine if a source is scholarly? (1)

Examples of a Popular Source:

How to determine if a source is scholarly? (2)

How to determine if a source is scholarly? (2024)

FAQs

How to determine if a source is scholarly? ›

The term scholarly typically means that the source has been “peer-reviewed,” which is a lengthy editing and review process performed by scholars in the field to check for quality and validity. To determine if your source has been peer-reviewed, you can investigate the journal in which the article was published.

What is one way to determine if a source is scholarly? ›

The term scholarly typically means that the source has been “peer-reviewed,” which is a lengthy editing and review process performed by scholars in the field to check for quality and validity. To determine if your source has been peer-reviewed, you can investigate the journal in which the article was published.

What are five 5 ways of recognizing a scholarly source? ›

Identifying Scholarly Articles
  • Author(s) name included. ...
  • Technical or specialized language. ...
  • Written for professionals. ...
  • Charts, graphs, and diagrams. ...
  • Long (5 or more pages) ...
  • Bibliography included.

How do I determine if a source is credible? ›

How do I know if a source is credible?
  1. An author who is an expert or a well-respected publisher (such as the NY Times or Wall Street Journal).
  2. Citations for sources used.
  3. Up-to-date information for your topic.
  4. Unbiased analysis of the topic (i.e. author examines more than one perspective on the issue).
Sep 7, 2023

What criteria should you use to determine if a source is academic or scholarly? ›

The article is most likely scholarly if:
  1. The source is longer than 10 pages.
  2. Has a works cited or bibliography.
  3. It does not attempt to persuade or bias the reader.
  4. It attempts to persuade or bias the reader, but treats the topic objectively, the information is well-supported, and it includes a works cited or bibliography.

What are three ways you can find scholarly sources? ›

9 Ways to Find Scholarly Articles
  • Browse your Course Website for Assigned Readings. ...
  • Check Your teacher's Lecture Slides. ...
  • Your University's Online Library. ...
  • Your University's Physical Library. ...
  • Google Scholar. ...
  • Google Books. ...
  • Assigned Readings from Previous Subjects.

Which can we consider as a scholarly source? ›

Scholarly sources (also referred to as academic, peer-reviewed, or refereed sources) are written by subject experts with systems in place to ensure the quality and accuracy of information. Scholarly sources include books from academic publishers, peer-reviewed journal articles, and reports from research institutes.

What are 3 major differences between scholarly and popular sources? ›

What is the difference between popular and scholarly sources?
SCHOLARLYPOPULAR
Bibliographies or references are includedBibliographies or references are generally not included
Authors are experts in their fields, often educatorsAuthors are usually journalists or amateurs
7 more rows

How can you tell the difference between a scholarly and non-scholarly source? ›

Generally, non-scholarly sources do not examine a topic with the level of detail and sophistication that your professor expects. They are not authoritative (the authors are often not academics). They are written to entertain and broadly inform, rather than to advance a field of study.

What are signs that a source might not be credible? ›

If the source has no author, or the author is anonymous, unknown, or untrustworthy, you should be skeptical about their claims and arguments. Some websites have hidden disclaimers stating that they are satire. Often political articles come from these sources.

What are some questions you can ask to determine a sources credibility? ›

Critical questions
  • Who is the creator/author/source/publisher of the information? What are the author's credentials or affiliations?
  • Is the author's expertise related to the subject? Are they an authority on the topic through education, experience, or expertise in the field?
  • Whose voices/viewpoints are not being heard?
Aug 15, 2023

How do you evaluate a source? ›

As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias.

What counts as a reliable academic source? ›

As a university student, you are expected to use credible sources in your assessments and course work. A credible source is one that is written by someone who is an expert in their discipline and is free of errors and bias.

How do you determine if a source is scholarly quizlet? ›

Look at the publication date. Is the info current enough for your purpose? Look at where the book was published. This could be an indicator of scholarly content.

How do you identify scholarly sources and non-scholarly sources? ›

The intended audience of a non-‐scholarly publication is non-‐experts. Non-‐scholarly publications either do not include bibliographies or lists of works cited, or such lists are very short. Non-‐scholarly articles may also include badly-‐written articles which contain mistakes in spelling or grammar.

How to distinguish between scholarly and non-scholarly sources? ›

Generally, non-scholarly sources do not examine a topic with the level of detail and sophistication that your professor expects. They are not authoritative (the authors are often not academics). They are written to entertain and broadly inform, rather than to advance a field of study.

How to identify scholarly sources compared to non-scholarly sources? ›

Scholarly v Non-Scholarly Publications
  1. ...are written by a scholar in a specific field of study.
  2. ... ALWAYS cite their sources in either footnotes, bibliographies, or works cited.
  3. ...go through a peer-reviewed/refereed process.
  4. ... are generally published by associations and universities.
  5. ... ...
  6. ...
Aug 29, 2023

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