Who wrote it?

Scholars can write about topics they are not experts in and they can be biased in their writing.

• What is the author's area of expertise?
• How often do they write about this topic?
• How are they supporting their argument?
  • Backed up with sources?
  • Stating their opinions only?

What is its purpose?

Scholarly sources like books and journal articles are generally published to share information and research.  But that does not mean you should not verify the purpose of the author(s) and publisher.

• Why did they do this research? Are the author(s) filling a gap in the research?
• Find out what the journal's purpose is and why it might be a good fit for your research
• What is the journal's reputation? What is it's process for reviewing and editing the information before it is published?
• Does the journal have any red flags for publishing with really quick review time (less than a month)? Could it be a a predatory journal?
  • Check out the guide below to learn more about predatory journals and publishers

When was it published?

Knowing when a source was created is a an indicator of how up to date the information is.

What is considered current in scholarly sources?

Because scholarly sources take longer to produce, current does not mean published this year or even last year.

3-5 years old is typically a good window for selecting journal articles, though your professor may set specific guidelines for how old the sources can be.  

It will also depend upon the type of information that the source provides.  If you are using it for background or historical information then you can be more flexible about how old it is, but know that it will not provide history past a certain point.

How do you know if your topic requires the most current information?

• Consider what discipline it falls within and what they expect

  • There are some disciplines, like the sciences, psychology, education, and business, where having the most current information is important and required

  • Other disciplines, like history, English, art history, etc., where there is more flexibility in how current sources need to be, you should still consider how old the information is as many disciplines have changed in their methodology over time

• Topics that are currently in the news are also topics where you need more recent information even if it has been in the news before to ensure you have information on the current situation
• Get to know your topic, looking at encyclopedia articles is a great way to do this. Read basic information about the topic and learn what the history is, where it started, and what the current situation is  
  • Check out the video below for how to use this pre-research in encyclopedia to help you learn about your topic.

What type of information does it provide?

Look beyond the title of the source to find out more about the source and the information it provides.

There are different types of articles within scholarly and peer-reviewed journals.  Book reviews, editorials, issue introductions, and opinion pieces can be found within these journals and while they come up in your search results as scholarly, they are not subject to the same review process and are therefore not scholarly or peer-reviewed.

So think about the following questions:

• Does it present original research done by the author either in an experimental setting or looking at primary sources?
• Does it summarize research done on a topic?
• Does it provide a history of the topic or make an argument?

How does it relate to your topic?

Once you've determined what type of information it provides, you then need to consider how it relates to your research topic. 

The goal when selecting sources is not to find sources that only reflect exactly the argument you are trying to make.  You are looking for sources that provide the information or evidence for the various points that support your argument.

• If the source makes an argument, identify the argument and consider how you could use their work to further your own argument
• If it provides history or background information, could you use it for history or background in your own work?  Could it come up in another part of your project?
• Not every source you find will agree with your point of view, examine these as well.  It's important to know the counterpoints so you don't overlook something that invalidates your argument 

Check out the video below for more information on finding relevant sources.