What makes a source scholarly (& why should you care?)

(evaluating sources tutorial @ HCC Libraries)

Popular Sources (AKA magazine & newspaper articles) can provide current, concise information on a topic.• Journalists research, but they’re usually

not experts.• Popular sources generally don’t have raw

data & detailed explanations on methodology, theories, & research practices.

Scholarly journals (AKA academic journals or peer-reviewed articles)

provide expert perspective & insight from authorities in the field.

(Scholarly sources are published to give professionals & students comprehensive insights

from experts)

How can you tell if an article’s scholarly?

Look at Anatomy & The source

Anatomy: See if you can spot• An abstract• Author’s credentials• Introduction• Jargon (a.k.a. expert words)• Citations in the text• Presentation of data (e.g. charts & graphs)• Conclusion• Extensive bibliography or references • Results, discussion, methodology,

literature review

The source: is it a scholarly source?

• Scholarly & academic journals are usually about the article’s subject. (E.g., “Genetic and morphological differentiation of wolves (Canis lupus) & coyotes” in the Canadian Journal of Zoology journal)

• Aimed towards a specific audience to inform. (E.g., physicians and the New England Journal of Medicine)

The source: peer-reviewed?

• Remember, a scholarly journal doesn’t necessarily mean peer-reviewed.

• With databases, trying clicking on the journal’s profile & see if it’s listed as peer-reviewed

• Not an option? Try Googling “name of journal” + peer reviewed & review results.

The source: peer-reviewed?

• Remember, a scholarly journal doesn’t necessarily mean peer-reviewed.

• With databases, trying clicking on the journal’s profile & see if it’s listed as peer-reviewed

• Not an option? Try Googling “name of journal” + peer reviewed & review results.

(Remember, being peer-reviewed is a big deal & selling point, so a source will advertise it. If you can’t find it quickly, it’s

probably not peer-reviewed.

Still unsure? Try asking a librarian for help, or Find out more with HCC

Libraries @library.hccs.edu

Thanks to Cornell University Library, the cooperative library instruction project, Ohio University Libraries (CLIP), & North Carolina State University for influencing this tutorial. Their tutorials on determining scholarly resources are linked on the subject guide.