The Good,

The Bad,

and the Ugly

The Search for Scholarly Sources

What What ISIS a Scholarly Source? a Scholarly Source?

Don't think of a scholarly Don't think of a scholarly source as something source as something that's been stamped that's been stamped SCHOLARLY SOURCE. SCHOLARLY SOURCE. Think of it as a resource Think of it as a resource which is which is authoritativeauthoritative, , which is which is structured and structured and presented presented professionallyprofessionally, and , and which which has content and has content and style appropriate to a style appropriate to a scholarly rather than a scholarly rather than a popular audience. popular audience.

Huh?Huh?

Peer Review Process: Peer Review Process: A key distinction between A key distinction between different kinds of sources is that scholarly publications different kinds of sources is that scholarly publications are peer reviewed (sometimes called "refereed").  are peer reviewed (sometimes called "refereed").  That means that before they are published, they are That means that before they are published, they are read and commented on by a board of people within read and commented on by a board of people within the field.  The author then revises to attempt to meet the field.  The author then revises to attempt to meet the editorial board’s demands.  The article is not the editorial board’s demands.  The article is not published until the author has satisfied the editorial published until the author has satisfied the editorial board.  When it is published, it includes complete board.  When it is published, it includes complete bibliographic information about the author’s research.bibliographic information about the author’s research.

Make sure you distinguish between a Make sure you distinguish between a peer review peer review processprocess and an editorial process.  and an editorial process. 

A Few Things to Consider:

Purpose:Purpose:  The purpose for most scholarly   The purpose for most scholarly publishing is to offer a research-based argument publishing is to offer a research-based argument that is presented as a potential answer to a that is presented as a potential answer to a research question or to present the testing of a research question or to present the testing of a hypothesis.  hypothesis. 

Thus, a data report by itself is not scholarly, nor is Thus, a data report by itself is not scholarly, nor is an editorial or opinion-piece.  The argument in an editorial or opinion-piece.  The argument in scholarly work is produced not just by reporting scholarly work is produced not just by reporting information or, conversely, by speaking from information or, conversely, by speaking from personal experience and viewpoint.  It is the personal experience and viewpoint.  It is the result of interpretive and conceptual analysis on a result of interpretive and conceptual analysis on a specific aspect of a topic.  specific aspect of a topic. 

Do not expect scholarly work to take on every Do not expect scholarly work to take on every part of a large issue.  The nature of it is to choose part of a large issue.  The nature of it is to choose a narrow focus and engage in complex a narrow focus and engage in complex exploration of that particular focus. exploration of that particular focus.

Perspective:Perspective:  Even when a scholarly source is   Even when a scholarly source is highly persuasive in tone, the author’s perspective highly persuasive in tone, the author’s perspective should still be one of reasonable objectivity.    should still be one of reasonable objectivity.   

By way of contrast, a research-based paper By way of contrast, a research-based paper published by People for the Ethical Treatment of published by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is likely to present a perspective that Animals (PETA) is likely to present a perspective that is already established, and the research and is already established, and the research and publication are primarily designed to support that publication are primarily designed to support that perspective.  While the article or source could still perspective.  While the article or source could still provide valid information and analysis, we might be provide valid information and analysis, we might be more inclined to question whether information and more inclined to question whether information and analysis counter to PETA’s goals have been ignored.  analysis counter to PETA’s goals have been ignored. 

In scholarly work, because the researcher is not In scholarly work, because the researcher is not driven by one agenda, s/he will (ideally) be able and driven by one agenda, s/he will (ideally) be able and willing to acknowledge and entertain concepts and willing to acknowledge and entertain concepts and analyses that may challenge his/her way of thinking, analyses that may challenge his/her way of thinking, even radically revising initial assumptions.  even radically revising initial assumptions. 

Authority/Credentials:Authority/Credentials:  This is an easy one –   This is an easy one – find out who the author is. Most scholarly work is find out who the author is. Most scholarly work is published by people with advanced degrees in published by people with advanced degrees in the field in which they publish—as opposed to a the field in which they publish—as opposed to a journalist who writes about a wide array of journalist who writes about a wide array of topics.  topics. 

Be aware, however, that authority can be Be aware, however, that authority can be acquired through experience and a history of acquired through experience and a history of recognized publishing.  For example, Daniel recognized publishing.  For example, Daniel Lazare is a journalist who has spent most of his Lazare is a journalist who has spent most of his career specializing in legal issues.  He has career specializing in legal issues.  He has published many articles and books based on his published many articles and books based on his research in this field, specifically Constitutional research in this field, specifically Constitutional Law. Though he holds no advanced degrees in Law. Though he holds no advanced degrees in law, the body of work he has produced has law, the body of work he has produced has earned him recognition as an authority on legal earned him recognition as an authority on legal questions. questions.

Place of Publication:Place of Publication:  Scholarly articles are   Scholarly articles are typically published in scholarly journals or books, typically published in scholarly journals or books, which are typically produced by university which are typically produced by university presses or professional organizations within that presses or professional organizations within that respective field.  respective field. 

Publication in Publication in TimeTime, , Newsweek,Newsweek, or other trade or other trade magazines will be a sure tip off that a source is magazines will be a sure tip off that a source is not scholarly.  Titles like not scholarly.  Titles like Journal of the American Journal of the American Historical AssociationHistorical Association and and Journal of the Modern Journal of the Modern Languages AssociationLanguages Association are scholarly sources.  are scholarly sources. 

However, not all scholarly sources have the word However, not all scholarly sources have the word "journal" in their titles, e.g., "journal" in their titles, e.g., Critical InquiryCritical Inquiry, , SignsSigns, , etc.  Some magazines have the word "journal" in etc.  Some magazines have the word "journal" in the title but are not scholarly, e.g., the title but are not scholarly, e.g., Ladies Home Ladies Home JournalJournal. .

Documentation/Bibliographic Documentation/Bibliographic Information:Information:  Scholarly publications will   Scholarly publications will provide documentation of sources through provide documentation of sources through footnotes, endnotes, and a list at the end footnotes, endnotes, and a list at the end of the document of the bibliographic of the document of the bibliographic information for each source.  They should information for each source.  They should also present clear in-text citation for also present clear in-text citation for quotations and data.  quotations and data. 

Again, this does not mean that non-Again, this does not mean that non-scholarly sources that do not provide scholarly sources that do not provide bibliographic information are not credible bibliographic information are not credible or that they are making up all their claims or that they are making up all their claims and data, only that the venues where they and data, only that the venues where they are published don't follow these protocols. are published don't follow these protocols.

Note on Webpages:Note on Webpages:  It is not uncommon   It is not uncommon to find webpages produced by professors to find webpages produced by professors at colleges and universities or other kinds at colleges and universities or other kinds of experts in given fields.  Often these of experts in given fields.  Often these webpages are used to publish arguments webpages are used to publish arguments or encourage discussion on a particular or encourage discussion on a particular topic.  topic. 

However, the material provided on these However, the material provided on these pages has not been peer reviewed.  Do not pages has not been peer reviewed.  Do not consider it scholarly unless it's a reprint of consider it scholarly unless it's a reprint of an article or essay that has been published an article or essay that has been published previously in a peer-reviewed publication. previously in a peer-reviewed publication.

What Does it All Mean?What Does it All Mean?

The Good…The Good…

When looking for a Scholarly Journal When looking for a Scholarly Journal Article, this is an excellent place to Article, this is an excellent place to start:start:

The Libraries @ CCC&TI Your campus librarians can help you Your campus librarians can help you

focus your search and can suggest focus your search and can suggest search terms and possible sources search terms and possible sources

What about Web What about Web Resources?Resources?

Look for:Look for:

.edu.edu

.gov.gov

.org .org (sometimes)(sometimes)

For Example…For Example…

United States Environmental United States Environmental Protection Agency:Protection Agency:

http://www.epa.govhttp://www.epa.gov .gov’s are good places to find articles, .gov’s are good places to find articles,

statistics, charts, graphs, and up-to-date statistics, charts, graphs, and up-to-date information on a variety of topicsinformation on a variety of topics

or, Try This…or, Try This…

http://scholar.google.com/http://scholar.google.com/ There are many good articles on Google There are many good articles on Google

Scholar; however, some of them must be Scholar; however, some of them must be purchased. purchased.

The Bad…The Bad… Welcome to Welcome to

Wikipedia,the free Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that encyclopedia that anyone can edit. anyone can edit.

Because anyone Because anyone can edit Wikipedia, can edit Wikipedia, it is subject to it is subject to inaccuracies.inaccuracies.

Also Avoid Sites Like This…Also Avoid Sites Like This…

EcoEarth.info:EcoEarth.info:

http://ecoearth.infohttp://ecoearth.info .info sites are basically .info sites are basically

clearing houses for clearing houses for information. If you find information. If you find something interesting there, something interesting there, you’ll need to go directly to you’ll need to go directly to the source. the source.

Also avoid blogspotsAlso avoid blogspots

Why?Why?

and the Ugly…and the Ugly…

The Truth About Martin Luther King, Jr.The Truth About Martin Luther King, Jr.

http://www.martinlutherking.org/http://www.martinlutherking.org/ While this source looks official, and While this source looks official, and

is a .org, it is administered by a is a .org, it is administered by a hate group. It looks hate group. It looks professional at first professional at first glance, but the extremely glance, but the extremely prejudiced bias is soon evident.prejudiced bias is soon evident.

The Moral…The Moral…

Choose your Choose your sources carefully!sources carefully!

Look for truly Look for truly scholarly sources.scholarly sources.

And avoid most And avoid most internet websites.internet websites.

Works CitedWorks Cited Appalachian State University. Appalachian State University. http://www.appstate.edu. http://www.appstate.edu. Eastwood, Clint. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Eastwood, Clint. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

Google Images. Google Images. http://images.google.com.http://images.google.com. EcoEarth. EcoEarth. http://ecoearth.info.http://ecoearth.info. Google Scholars. Google Scholars. http://scholar.google.com.http://scholar.google.com. ““Scholarly Sources.” Scholarly Sources.” Green River Community College. Green River Community College.

http://www.instruction.greenriver.edu.http://www.instruction.greenriver.edu. ““The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” DragList.com. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” DragList.com.

http://www.draglist.com.http://www.draglist.com. The Truth About Martin Luther King, Jr. The Truth About Martin Luther King, Jr.

http://www.martinlutherking.org.http://www.martinlutherking.org. United States Environmental Protection Agency. United States Environmental Protection Agency.

http://www.epa.gov.http://www.epa.gov. Wikipedia. Wikipedia. http://www.wikipedia.org.http://www.wikipedia.org.