The Information Cycle
Evaluating What You Find
Use the 5 W's of Information Evaluation to evaluate websites, articles, and books.
Peer Review in 3 Minutes
Have questions about the difference between "scholarly" and "peer reviewed"? This video explains the peer review process.
Scholarly vs Non-Scholarly
Scholarly/Non-scholarly Comparison
Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether you are reading a scholarly or a non-scholarly article. Here are some clues.
Scholarly |
Non-scholarly |
|
Content |
Detailed report of original research or experiment, lengthy report of an original application of an arts or humanities concept | Secondary report or discussion may include personal narrative, opinion, anecdotes. |
|---|---|---|
Author |
Author's credentials are given, usually a scholar with subject expertise. | Author may or may not be named; often a professional writer; may or may not have subject expertise. |
Audience |
Scholars, researchers, students. | General public; the interested non-specialist. |
Language |
Specialized terminology or jargon of the field; requires prior knowledge. | Vocabulary in general usage; understandable to most readers. |
References/Bibliography |
Required. All quotes and facts can be verified. | Rare. Scanty, if any, information about sources. |
Examples |
Research study, lengthy academic discussion of an arts or humanities concept, research review article | Editorial, news, book/film review, letters, highlights |