Instructors often ask students to find “scholarly”, “academic”, or “peer reviewed” sources of information for their research.  These terms all refer to the same type of information – sources based on in-depth research, and are considered higher in quality and more reliable for your research. These sources can range from chapters within books or entire books, or journal articles, but all have common characteristics that can help you recognize that type of information.

Scholarly

• Written for professors, students or researchers.
• Have a plain appearance and titles may include words like "Journal," "Transactions," or "Quarterly”.
• Articles are reviewed by a board of experts or "peer reviewed."
• Follow a standard format: abstract, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, possibly footnotes, endnotes and/or bibliography.
• May include tables, graphs or illustrations to support research.
• Very little advertising.

General Purpose (Popular)

• May have a bright cover with many glossy pictures.
• Designed to attract a broad segment of the population.
• No specific format.
• Articles sometimes unsigned.
• General editors of the magazine review articles.
• May include tables, graphs or illustrations.
• Lots of advertising.

Trade/Professional publications

• May have a bright cover.
• Provide information of use to a particular industry.
• No specific format.
• Articles sometimes unsigned.
• General editors of the magazine review articles.
• Advertising is used to appeal to those in the field.