Scholarly sources are written by academics, researchers and other experts in a particular field of study. Their purpose is to share recent research, theories, analyses and insights, or to provide summaries of current thinking in the field. Scholarly sources can include materials such as:
In-depth articles written by experts in a particular field of study. They are published in journals (essentially magazines but for an academic audience) which are usually published multiple times per year and are organised by volumes and issues.
Examples:
Provide an in-depth overview on a particular research topic. Collections of articles or chapters, written by different authors, are often collated into an edited book focusing on a topic area.
Examples:
An individual research paper that was presented at an academic conference. Papers from the same conference are often compiled into a single publication known as a conference proceeding.
Examples:
What is peer-review?
Some scholarly sources, particularly journal articles, undergo an editorial process known as peer-review, in which the item is sent to other experts (peers) in the same field as the author(s) for review before publication. These peers review the item to ensure the research presented is accurate and reliable, and based on sound research methodologies. The peers are often ‘blinded’ so they do not know who has written the article to minimise potential for bias in their feedback.
The following table outlines some differences between scholarly and popular sources
| Features | Scholarly | Popular |
|---|---|---|
| Authors | Written by experts in the field. Qualifications and affiliations are usually listed. | Written by journalists, staff writers or bloggers, who may not have qualifications in the field. |
| Audience | Aimed at academics, researchers and students. Provides detailed, in-depth analysis. | Aimed at the general public. Broad, easy-to-read coverage. |
| Purpose | To share original research and findings in a specific field. | To inform, entertain, persuade or express an opinion. |
| Language | Uses technical, discipline-specific language. | Uses simple, everyday language and may include emotional or persuasive wording. |
| Review | Often checked by other experts in the same field (peer-reviewed) before being published. | Reviewed by editors, not necessarily experts. |
| Supporting documentation | Includes references and evidence to support claims. | Usually do not provide full references, though they may mention recent studies. |
| Images | Uses charts, graphs and tables to support the text. | Often includes colourful images and advertisements. |
The following points can help you decide if a source is scholarly:
In addition to scholarly sources, you may be required to use other credible sources in your assessments. These are trustworthy and accurate sources, such as well-known news outlets, trade journals, government reports and local government websites.