What is a Scholarly Source?

A scholarly source is a publication that presents research, analysis, or information intended primarily for an audience of experts and scholars in a particular field. Unlike non-scholarly publications, scholarly sources undergo more extensive review and vetting processes to establish credibility and validity within the academic community.

The key characteristics of scholarly sources are:

• Written by researchers and subject experts rather than journalists or non-specialists. The author credentials are provided.
• Published by academic presses, peer-reviewed journals, or presented at scholarly conferences. There is an editorial process.
• These are longer, in-depth pieces aimed at a specialized audience versed in the field or topic. They use more technical language.
• The purpose is to advance research and knowledge in the field. Citations, data, and previous academic work support claims.
• Objectivity and lack of bias are valued. Multiple perspectives may be presented to give a balanced understanding.

Types of Sources

There are several main categories of sources, each with different purposes and levels of credibility:

Scholarly Sources

Also called academic or peer-reviewed sources, these are written by experts mainly for an audience of researchers and scholars. They include:

• Peer-reviewed journal articles: These are the gold standard of academic publishing. These articles undergo rigorous vetting and multiple stages of review by field experts before acceptance for publication.
• Books from academic presses: University presses publish books by specialists in a field. The writing and information are geared towards researchers.
• Conference papers/proceedings: Papers presented at academic conferences and compiled into conference proceedings volumes. The writings are technical but scholarly.

Popular Sources

These are written for a general audience of non-specialists. They include:

• Magazines: Publications like Time or Newsweek that cater to a mainstream audience. The writers often have journalism backgrounds.
• Newspapers: Daily or weekly news publications. Articles focus on topics of broad public interest.
• Websites: Online articles or blogs aimed at the average reader rather than specialists. Vary widely in credibility.

Other Significant Sources

• Commercial/Trade Publications: Journals or magazines that deal with business, trades, or industries. Useful for insights into professional practices.
• Government Documents: Reports, data, transcripts, and other publications from government agencies, departments, or affiliated organizations. They are valuable sources of statistics and policy information.
• Primary Sources: First-hand accounts, such as letters, interviews, photographs, and artifacts, provide direct evidence from the time period under study.

Finding Sources

Here are techniques to help locate relevant scholarly materials:

Use Article Databases

Specialized scholarly databases like JSTOR and ProQuest centralize academic publications across disciplines, such as the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. You can search by keywords and filter by criteria like peer-reviewed status, publication date, author, and journal.

Search Your School Library Catalog

Your college or university library catalog allows you to search for physical and electronic books and journals available at your institution or online through the library. Look for advanced search options to limit scholarly publications.

Ask A Librarian

Remember the human experts! Librarians are skilled at assisting with research and locating appropriate sources. They can point you toward relevant article databases, recommend search strategies, and help you access materials.

Mine Reference Lists

Scan the reference lists or bibliographies in sources you’ve already found. Compile any relevant cited works. This method allows you to “snowball” your research using one source to lead to others.

Utilize Online Citation Tools

Websites like Google Scholar allow you to search broadly for scholarly literature, while tools like Mendeley suggest related research publications based on the contents of your personal reference library.

Evaluating Sources

With so much material available, assessing source credibility and relevance is vital rather than using references indiscriminately. Evaluate both scholarly and non-scholarly sources using these criteria:

Authority

• Who is the author/publisher? What are their credentials and qualifications?
• Is it an individual or an organization? What is their standing and reputation?
• Does their area of expertise cover your research topic?

Reliability

• Has it gone through any review or editing process? What is the reputation of the journal or publisher?
• Is the information well-supported and accompanied by citations?
• Are claims verifiable from other sources?

Objectivity

• Is there an obvious bias or agenda? Does the author acknowledge multiple perspectives?
• Is the language measured or emotive? Are there overgeneralizations?
• Is it aiming to inform or persuade? Is it fact-based or mostly opinion-based?

Relevance

• Does the source directly relate to your thesis or address your specific scope of research?
• Is it sufficiently focused or too broad in coverage?
• Is the information presented too basic or too advanced for your needs?

Currency

• When was the source published? How recently has it been updated?
• Are studies and data current and not outdated?
• Are online sources frequently maintained and functional? (No dead links or 404 errors).

Accuracy

• Does credible information in other sources verify or contradict the content?
• Are there errors like unsubstantiated claims or data inconsistencies?
• Can you spot any signs of plagiarism or unethical practices?
• By thoroughly examining the source and external information about it, you can determine its suitability for reference.

Integrating Sources

Citing relevant research is necessary to situate your arguments within existing ideas and evidence. However, references should contribute value, not just fill space. Use sources efficiently and ethically:

Quote Selectively

Only use direct quotes that support claims or provide unique wording or insights that rephrasing would reduce impact. Avoid long quotes that detract from your original analysis.

Synthesize Information

Rather than restating paragraphs verbatim from sources, synthesize information. Identify key concepts and findings and summarize them concisely in your own words.

Analyze and Comment

Discuss how sources support your thesis. Analyze the implications. Offer critique or point out contrasts with other theories. Use sources to build discussion.

Cite Consistently

Use citation style guidelines (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Reference sources in-text and provide full publication details. Enable readers to locate sources. Credit all quoted, paraphrased, or summarized material.

Apply Fair Use Standards

Restrict usage to reasonable portions of the work. Seek permission to reproduce any figures, data, or lengthy passages. Only use what is essential. Don’t violate copyright through plagiarism.

Integrating sources thoughtfully allows the research to speak for itself rather than letting it dominate your work. Handle sources ethically.

Synthesizing Sources

A literature review analyzes existing studies on a particular topic into a cohesive overview. This synthesis serves as the foundation and rationale for new research questions. To synthesize effectively:

• Thoroughly read and take notes on relevant sources, keeping track of topics, findings, methodologies, limitations, and conclusions. Look for agreements and contradictions.
• Group sources logically. Categorize by historical development, opposing theories, experimental approaches, applications, etc. Identify relationships between groupings.
• For each group, summarize the key insights, general findings, gaps in research, and future directions suggested by the authors. Synthesize by theme instead of handling each source individually.
• Analyze how source content relates. Consider if later studies build upon earlier work and replicate or disprove it. Does consensus exist in the field? What issues remain open or unaddressed?
• Restate synthesized information in your own voice rather than directly quoting. Maintain the level of vocabulary and terminology from original sources.
• Cite sources thoroughly. Link ideas to specific studies using in-text citations.

Effective literature reviews analyze connections across sources to provide new perspectives that establish the need for further investigation.

Information Literacy

These competencies allow you to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically:

• Understand Need – Recognize the kinds of sources information needs necessitate. Identify keywords that characterize the information being sought.
• Find Sources – Use advanced tools like academic databases rather than basic Google web searches. Employ strategies to refine searches.
• Assess Sources – Evaluate authority, credibility, and relevance using criteria like those discussed earlier. Differentiate between types of sources.
• Manage information – Employ techniques like annotated bibliographies and citation managers to organize, summarize, and cite useful resources for easy reference.
• Synthesize Ideas – Analyze relationships between sources. Combine essential information concisely rather than reproducing material.
• Use Ethically – When utilizing all source material in academic work, Apply fair use, copyright compliance, and anti-plagiarism standards.

Critical Thinking

Locating authoritative sources isn’t useful if you passively accept all content as truth. Bring critical thinking into play:

• Don’t take statements at face value without examination. Ask probing questions about assertions made in sources:
• What evidence supports this premise?
• How was this conclusion reached?
• What methodology was used?
• Why might contradictions and contrasting viewpoints exist?
• Consider the biases, intentions, and assumed premises underlying the author’s perspective. How might these shape the information presented? Is the full picture provided?
• Note any gaps in logic or reasoning. Watch for logical fallacies and lack of credible substantiation for arguments made.
• Determine if conclusions align with the results and data presented or if the author stretches conclusions beyond reasonable interpretations.
• Evaluate whether the scope of the research is sufficient or if questions remain. Determine whether connections to prior work in the field are made or ignored.

Critical thinking allows you to engage actively with sources. Ask thoughtful questions rather than accepting all scholarly materials as gospel. Consider the context and identify potential gaps or flaws in logic. 

By sharpening your abilities to locate scholarly sources efficiently, assess credibility based on clear criteria, synthesize rather than just summarize, demonstrate information literacy, and apply critical thinking, you will use academic sources skillfully to bolster and enrich your own research and writing.