Identifying Relevant Sources: Overview
When locating sources for a paper, you may be told to only use "scholarly" or "peer-reviewed" sources.
Where do you begin to locate these sources? What types of sources are relevant and applicable to your research topic?
This page will help you identify the applicability of different types of sources and determine if a source you have identified is scholarly.
- Watch the video, "Types of Sources."
- Watch the video, "Peer Review."
- Review "Is It Scholarly?" for tips to help you determine if an article is scholarly.
- Review "Source Types: Scholarly vs. Non-Fiction Books" to determine if a book is scholarly.
Is This Article Scholarly?
Identify the following features of an article to verify that it is a scholarly work.
Is This Book Scholarly?
The same general characteristics apply to scholarly books as to peer reviewed journal articles. In general, you must consider the book's purpose, examine its language, the author's expertise and credibility, look for cited sources, and determine its intended audience in order to determine whether it is scholarly or popular non-fiction.
