Q. What are scholarly, refereed, or peer-reviewed sources?

Scholarly sources are written by experts. In many cases, scholarly sources and peer-reviewed articles are terms that are used interchangeably. However, sources other than periodical articles can also be scholarly. Here's how to find scholarly sources for all your various research paper needs. 

Scholarly Books

Books that are written by experts can also be scholarly. Look for the following: 

• Determine the author's educational and professional background by reading the “about the author” section on the back flap of the book. There you can find the author’s credentials and a list of their previously published works. 
• Search for books published by university presses, such as: Oxford UP, Harvard UP, Yale UP, or Columbia UP
• Books that have “academic” in the publisher's name, like Baker Academic, Bloomsbury Academic, and IVP Academic. Sometimes, these publishers also release popular version of their scholarly titles that condense the information and make abstract concepts more accessible. 
• Footnotes and a bibliographies are also indicators of scholarly works.

Scholarly Articles

Articles from publications such as peer-reviewed or trade journals contain information derived from research, experimentation, or study of a specific field. All peer-reviewed journals are scholarly, but some scholarly journals are not peer-reviewed. The following characteristics can be indicative of scholarly articles.

• Articles include mostly text and few graphics
• Articles answer a research question that encourages debate, discussion, and criticism
• Articles are divided into sections (Intro, Hypothesis, etc)
• Advertisements, if included, are geared toward the specific field in question
• Articles usually have a reference page at the end
• Written by and for researchers and use specialized language related to the field of study
• Authors are subject experts or scholars presenting original data or research
• Sometimes articles present information about new techniques or developments in a field of study or to highlight the accomplishments of professionals. These articles may not be peer-reviewed, but since they are written by experts they are scholarly.

Remember, the terms "scholarly source" and "peer-reviewed articles" are not always interchangeable. Ask your instructor for clarification if you are unsure of the requirements.

Please contact one of our Librarians in person or through our Ask a Librarian if you have questions.