A scholarly source is a publication written by an expert in a particular field that contributes to knowledge in that field by sharing new research findings, theories, analyses, insights, news, or summaries of current knowledge. Scholarly sources can be either primary or secondary research and can come in many different formats, including books, articles, and websites. Scholarly material is typically made up of research studies and journal articles targeted to help advance knowledge in a particular field.
Scholarly sources are distinguished from popular sources by several characteristics, including:
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Authors: Scholarly sources are written by academics or researchers with credentials listed, while popular sources are written by journalists or freelance writers.
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Audience: Scholarly sources are written for researchers, academics, and college students, while popular sources are written for the general public.
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Accuracy: Scholarly sources should be based on verifiable facts and have a bibliography or list of references.
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Language: The language of scholarly sources should be fairly technical, not simplistic.
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Peer-review: Scholarly sources undergo a rigorous peer-review process before they are published for the verification of facts or for the identification of conflicts of interest.
When determining if a source is scholarly, it is important to look at the criteria in each category and not base your decision on only one piece of information.
