Evaluating Sources
Evaluating Sources
Who is the intended audience? Is this a scholarly professional publication? Or popular literature, intended for the general public? Or a source that was never published, and is just "out there”
Is the information still considered valid? Or is it dated?
Is this a primary source, such as a report from a research study by the authors?
Is it a secondary source which compiles, analyzes or evaluates a primary source? commentary on another source? Is it simply opinion?
What is the author's goal of the article / book / website?
What qualifications does the author have? Why does this author have credibility? Is the author trustworthy?
Prepared by Catherine Gray, University Library Center Librarian, ISU-Idaho Falls used with permission
Scholarly vs. Popular Journals
| SCHOLARLY JOURNAL Article | POPULAR MAGAZINE Article |
|---|---|
| Published in an academic journal, described also as refereed or peer-reviewed | Published in a popular, general interest, or news magazine |
| Author is expert on topic or scholar | Author may be lay reporter |
| Specialized audience of peers or students | Audience includes general public |
| Goal is to inform or present research | Goal is often to entertain or persuade |
| Research-based | Report events or findings of others |
| Includes sources: footnotes and bibliography | Sources may not be cited formally |
| Vocabulary is complex and technical | Vocabulary is familiar, non-technical |
| Graphics used to illustrate a point | Graphics used for visual impact |
| Titles may include the words Journal, Review, or Annals; and/or refer to a field of study. Examples: Anthropology & Education Quarterly, Journal of Higher Education | Titles often general, usually catchier. Examples: People Weekly, Newsweek |
| Published monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually | Published weekly or monthly |
Often your professor will tell you to choose only "scholarly" or "peer-reviewed" article resources when you do research for a paper. This table shows some key contrasts between scholarly and popular resources. Many of the Libraries' article citation databases include an option to search only scholarly, but not all do, so this table should come in handy.
More Resources
If you need additional resources checkout the Research Guide for other subjects.
Also check out the Browse by Subject page for a complete list of databases related to specific subjects. For example, if you are interested in laws and legislation related to Immigration Policies check the LibGuide for Government Information
Research Help
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