What are Scholarly Sources and Where Can You Find Them?

As part of your research journey, it is crucial to not only conduct high-quality research but also to add credibility to the research articles you aim to publish.

Distinguishing your work from the millions of other research publications is challenging, but citing high-quality scholarly sources is a key strategy to achieve this.

By referencing reputable and well-regarded sources, you enhance the reliability and authority of your own research, making it more compelling and impactful in the academic community.

Scholarly Source

A scholarly source refers to a type of resource, typically a journal article or book, authored by an expert in a specific field or subject.

These resources, particularly journal articles, undergo a rigorous publication process where the information is verified by other experts in the field, known as “peer review.”

A scholarly source is a work authored by an expert in a specific field, guaranteeing that the information presented is current, precise, and of high quality.

This content is typically based on the expert’s findings, theories, analyses, and insights accumulated over many years of research. Scholarly sources encompass journal articles, books, conference publications, and even certain websites.

Scholarly sources are highly regarded at the college level due to their authorship by experts and the peer-reviewed validation process. They often detail research processes and outcomes, commonly cited as “studies show…” in various contexts.

In contrast, newspapers, magazines, and websites are not considered scholarly sources, although they may provide reliable information occasionally. If unsure about a source’s suitability for academic research, consulting with the instructor is recommended.

Types of Scholarly Sources 

Scholarly sources play a crucial role in academic writing, offering a range of reliable and authoritative information. Here are the main types and their significance:

1. Journal Articles: Rigorously reviewed and published in reputable journals, these articles showcase current research findings and contribute to the scholarly discourse.
2. Scholarly Books: Published by academic presses, these books delve deep into research topics, providing comprehensive insights and analyses.
3. Government Publications: White papers, reports, and policy documents from research institutions offer accurate data and analysis, supporting academic arguments with credible information.
4. Conference Publications: Presenting cutting-edge research, these papers are valuable for understanding emerging trends and innovations in various fields.
5. Doctoral Theses: These in-depth research works by PhD students contribute new knowledge and insights, enriching academic discussions and providing authoritative references.
6. Websites: Some websites, if from reputable sources with clear authorship and recent updates, can serve as scholarly sources, offering additional perspectives and data.

In academic writing, incorporating such scholarly sources lends credibility and reliability to manuscripts.

Citing these sources not only adds authority to the content but also helps prevent confirmation bias by presenting diverse viewpoints and trusted information.

Publishers value papers with scholarly citations for their trustworthiness and originality, making them essential for academic success and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in various disciplines.

Characteristics of a scholarly source?

Certain characteristics can help identify scholarly sources:

1. Author Details: These sources provide author names, qualifications, and institutional affiliations, enhancing their credibility.
2. Accuracy: Scholarly sources are factually and grammatically accurate. They often include a bibliography or references to validate their sources.
3. Intended Audience: Scholarly sources target scholars, researchers, and experts, using technical language not typical for general readers.
4. Timeliness: They typically use recent sources, published within three to five years of the scholarly publication.
5. Lack of Bias: They present factual information without bias or political influence, appealing to logic rather than emotion.
6. Peer Review: Many scholarly sources undergo peer review by field specialists, ensuring quality and accuracy. However, not all are peer-reviewed but can still be scholarly.
7. Publisher: Scholarly sources are often published by university presses, professional associations, academic institutions, or commercial publishers.
8. Purpose: The purpose of scholarly sources is to convey academic and research-based ideas.

Where can scholarly sources be found?

You can find scholarly sources on popular search engines such as Science Direct, Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic, WorldWideScience, ResearchGate, PubMed, JSTOR, Academic Search Premier, and OneSearch.

These platforms offer a wide range of scholarly sources covering diverse subject areas. Additionally, you may find scholarly sources in your university library.

here are four ways researchers can access scholarly sources for their academic and research papers:

1. Database Research: Explore credible research databases, especially those available through your institution’s library. These databases can offer a wealth of scholarly articles, papers, and studies for your research.
2. Institution’s Library: Utilize your institution’s library as it often provides access to a wide range of scholarly sources, including books, journals, and databases relevant to your field of study.
3. Peer-Reviewed Articles: Seek out peer-reviewed articles published in reputable and high-impact journals. These articles undergo rigorous review by experts in the field, ensuring the quality and reliability of the information presented.
4. Reputable Publishers: Look for books published by reputable publishers associated with universities or well-known publishing companies. Publications from such sources are typically considered credible and reliable for academic citation.

How to Access Scholarly Sources ?

Here are nine ways to identify and access scholarly sources:

1. Author Credentials: Authors of scholarly works provide their names, institutional affiliations, and qualifications, adding credibility to their research.
2. Evidence-based Content: Scholarly sources rely on verifiable data and arguments supported by evidence. They typically include a reference list or bibliography for verification.
3. Target Audience: These sources target academics, experts, students, researchers, and faculty in specific fields, aiming to contribute to scholarly discourse.
4. Publisher: Scholarly sources are often published by academic institutions, university presses, or reputable commercial publishers.
5. Bias-Free Information: Scholarly publications strive to present information without bias, basing their content on evidence and factual analysis.
6. Language Style: Scholarly writing uses discipline-specific terminology and academic language, reflecting a specialized and complex writing style.
7. Structured Format: Scholarly works follow a structured format, including sections like abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, and references.
8. Peer Review Process: Most scholarly sources undergo rigorous peer review by experts in the field, ensuring quality, accuracy, and credibility. However, some non-peer-reviewed articles may still be considered scholarly based on their content and context.
9. Purpose: The primary goal of scholarly sources is to communicate original research findings and advance knowledge within their respective fields.

What makes scholarly sources important?

1. Provide Credibility: Citing scholarly sources is crucial for establishing the credibility of your research publication.
2. Lend Authority: Scholarly sources contain verified expert knowledge, lending authority to your research submission.
3. Ensure Impartiality: By preventing confirmation bias, scholarly sources offer authentic, unbiased views on research topics, derived from years of study in the field.

What differentiates scholarly sources from popular sources?

Scholarly sources differ from popular sources in several ways. Unlike scholarly sources, popular sources are often not written by subject-matter experts. These include newspapers, magazines, book reviews, and editorials, which are non-technical and designed to appeal to the general public. While they are easier to understand, they may not always provide reliable information.

Scholarly sources undergo a rigorous peer-review process before publication, ensuring the verification of facts and the identification of conflicts of interest. This process makes scholarly sources significantly more reliable.