WR121 Amy Warren

How to use Scholarly Sources in your Research by Australian National University Library.

Check your understanding:

• What are some examples of popular sources?
• What are some examples of people who write scholarly sources? How about popular?
• What are the characteristics of the types of language used in popular sources? How about scholarly?
• Which type of source has references? What might you use them for?
• What are some things you should look for to figure out if your article is popular or scholarly?

Overview of popular and scholarly sources:

Popular and scholarly are not "good" and "bad." They are just different. Since a popular sources can be read by a lot more people, that can be a really good thing. However, you often are asked to use scholarly sources in your college-level work for a few reasons:

1. Scholarly sources are often peer-reviewed. This means that experts that know about the topic have looked at what was written and made sure that what the writer is saying is reasonable.
2. Scholarly sources often have a references or works cited list at the end. This means you can do more research on their work and figure out if what they are saying makes sense and is truthful.
3. Scholarly sources will help you learn more about college-level research and your field of study because they push you to grow your understanding of research methods, technical language, and writing styles.

SP24 WR121 list of how to tell if something is popular or scholarly.

Great question. A "good" source is both credible and relevant.

Relevancy means the source helps you answer your questions, learn widely about your topic, and think about your topic in new ways.

Credibility, when applied to an information source, means trustworthy. Trustworthiness is tricky to determine, but doable! Pause and ask questions about your source, beyond just what is in your source. CCC Library recommends either of these tools to help you evaluate your sources.

• The CRAP Test

• The SIFT Method

Ultimately it is up to you to determine — using research and your own critical judgment — whether a source is credible or not. And "credible" can mean something and look different to everyone. Your instructors expect you to use credible, authoritative information in your projects and papers, so be upfront and clear about why you trust the information you choose to use.

CCC Librarians are here to help you with this question, too. ♥

^{Abe adapted from public domain photo Abraham Lincoln [image]. (1863). Available from https://upload.wikimedia.org/}

Evaluating information is especially important when completing projects and assignments in college (and at work!) because you will be evaluated on the quality of sources you use. The CRAP Test is a helpful tool to use when deciding if a source is "good." CRAP stands for Currency, Reliability, Authority and Purpose / Point of View.

When you evaluate a source, consider these four concepts by asking yourself a few questions about each.

Currency

• When was the item originally written or created?
• How recently has the item been updated?
• Is the information current enough for your topic?

Reliability

• How important is it for you that this information is accurate?
• Are there Works Cited or References, informal citations, or links to outside sources? Are sources included for data, quotations, and images?
• Was the item reviewed by experts or people with relevant experience?
• Does this information have any characteristics of misinformation, disinformation, or fake news?
• Does the information seem accurate based on your existing knowledge of the subject?

Authority

• Who is the creator or author? What does it mean if you cannot identify the creator or author?
• What are their credentials? Can you find any information about the author's background, education, and/or experience?
• Who is the publisher, sponsor, or hosting website? Are they reputable? What is the publisher's interest (if any) in sharing this information? What is on their "About Us" page?

Purpose / Point of View

• Does the information help you answer your questions, learn widely about your topic, and / or think about your topic in new ways?
• Is the information fact or opinion?
• Can you identify bias in the article? Does the information amplify certain viewpoints or experiences? Does the information omit or misconstrue certain viewpoints or experiences?
• Is this information meant to educate you, persuade you, sell you something, and / or appeal to your emotions or values? If so, are these intentions clearly stated?
• Who is the intended audience for this information? How might the audience impact what is shared and how (e.g., does this resource require in-depth knowledge to understand)? Is this information intended for you and your information needs?

^{CRAP Test adapted from Beestrum, M., & Orenic, K. (2008). The CRAP test. Available from http://commons.emich.edu}