Scholarly sources report on original research by experts in a particular academic discipline. Often they go through a peer-review process, which means that they are evaluated by reputable scholars in the field before they are published.
| Part | Questions to Ask |
|---|---|
| Author: | Who wrote it? Are they an scholar, journalist, or a writer? Does the author have credentials that qualify him or her to write knowledgeably on the topic? |
| Sources: | Does the author acknowledge his or her sources? How? |
| Content: | Is the content substantial? Does it appear to be valid and well-researched? Does it make sense, based on your own background knowledge, or what other articles have to say on the topic? |
| Writing: | Is the language scholarly? Is the article well written? Do the illustrations support the content in a scholarly fashion, or do they appear to be attention-getting, or sensational? |
| Audience: | Who is the article written for? Is it written for experts and researchers in the field, or for members of the general public? |
| Journal: | Is it published in a scholarly journal or a popular magazine? |
| Publisher: | Is it published by a university press or a large commercial publisher (such as Routledge, Palgrave Macmillan) that specializes in producing scholarly books? |
Is the article published in a scholarly journal? How would you find out?
Investigate a particular periodical using these three strategies:
1). Search the journal name in LibrarySearch to determine if it is scholarly or peer-reviewed.
The item record for a particular journal indicates whether the publication is peer-reviewed:
2). Search the journal name in Ulrichsweb to determine if it is scholarly or peer-reviewed.
The black and white referee’s shirt indicates that the journal is peer-reviewed.
3). Visit the journal’s website to learn more about the periodical.
Is it published by a scholarly association such as the Cervantes Society of America?
Is it published by a university press?
On the journal’s website, look for the “about this journal” or “submission guidelines” section to learn about the publication’s editorial policy.