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It is important to find credible sources of information while researching for articles and other scholarly material to write an essay, a research paper, or any other academic task. Usually, the resources are collated and compiled from a variety of sources such as newspapers, books, periodicals (journals and magazines) and websites. Some of these resources are considered popular sources whereas the others are considered scholarly sources. When conducting literature search, do you feel uncertain about a source’s authenticity and credibility? In this article, we focus on identifying ‘scholarly’ sources for obtaining reliable information to be presented for academic work such as class assignments, dissertation, or thesis writing. Tips for referring to popular sources Newspapers and magazines are considered as ‘popular’ sources. They cater to a broad audience and have articles that are written by professional writers (for example, a journalist who might not be an expert in the field) in a more general way using common/popular language; these do not follow any specific format and rarely have references or endnotes.
Books and journals, on the other hand, are considered ‘scholarly’ publications which are intended for specialist readership of researchers, academics, students, and professionals. They publish in-depth articles and reviews on specific topics written by specialists and researchers in subject area who employ technical, subject-specific jargon. Apart from having a standard format, these publications are always accompanied by tables/figures and previously published articles as references. Although popular sources are not without merit and may also contain well-considered writing, the purpose of distinguishing between these types of works is to determine their degree of authority and depth of research on a given topic, and thereby their intrinsic academic value. If the project at hand allows it, you could depend on reliable popular sources. Tips for referring to scholarly sources Scholarly sources are also referred to as academic, peer-reviewed, or refereed sources. These are the sources researchers rely on. So let us discuss the three categories to which such scholarly sources belong - journals, books, and online resources. 1. Journals An article published in a journal will have the following characteristics: Authors: Names of the authors with their academic credentials, institutional affiliation, address, and e-mail addresses are provided alongside every publication. Make sure that the author(s) and/or corresponding author(s) are experts in the field, are affiliated to an unbiased reputable organization or credible academic institution/university, have had previous publications in peer-reviewed journals or books for which references can be found. Publishers: Publishers are usually academic publishing houses, universities, research organisations, professional bodies, or other recognised authorities producing research. Basic information, such as the names of the editorial board members and the Editor-in-Chief, is mentioned on the journal’s website. You will also find information about the guidelines followed by the journal; for example, Committee On Publication Ethics (COPE) or International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Examples of some well-known publishers include Springer, Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, SAGE Publishing, Macmillan, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Nature Publishing, etc. Here are certain things you must look at when ascertaining the credibility of a journal:
The content should be non-biased and provide a very objective review or study on a particular topic stating both strengths and limitations of the study. Articles with numerous typographical mistakes, grammatical errors, or other inaccuracies are not reliable. Search for the citations of the article on library databases or on Google Scholar. 2. Books Books have been a source of information from time immemorial. The following points should be borne in mind while scouring books for scholarly content: Authors: Always check the credibility of the author by verifying the biography details. Ensure that the author is an expert in the field of study, confirm the author’s institutional affiliation, other publications of the author, and check if the publisher stands to benefit from the research or argument presented in the book. Publisher: Books published by university presses, professional or trade associations, government offices, institutes, research centres, and reputable commercial publishers are usually trustworthy and have scholarly content. Searching for book reviews online, which can provide clues as to whether a source is scholarly and highlight the intended audience, can be useful. Visit the publisher’s website and find out more information about the publisher to ensure that it is not a vanity press. Content: Checking for the following aspects can give a fair idea as to the authenticity and relevance of the book for scholarly information:
3. Websites: Online search is the most popular and convenient way to find information. However, caution should be exercised while procuring information from any website. Here are some tips: Authenticity: URLs or website addresses can reveal the following information:
Content: Surveying the content of the website can reveal a lot about the intent of the information presented:
Conclusion Describing and discussing correct and error-free information is a vital part of any academic writing. We hope that the pointers given in this article will aid you in finding valid sources of scholarly material. It is always a good idea to check with the librarian and library databases of the institution/university for authentic scholarly sources. While the verification process may take a bit of your time and effort, being sure of the authenticity of your sources will help you advance in your task with more confidence. Related reading:
Published on: Jul 31, 2018 An experienced researcher and scholarly publishing professional passionate about using her knowledge to help researchers communicate their science better. See more from Dr. Radhika N.S. Why are academic essays and scientific reports usually good sources of information quizlet?Why are academic essays and scientific reports usually good sources of information? They have been peer-reviewed. What does it mean not to take information at face value?
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