What makes a source scholarly?
Scholarly sources...
- ...are written by and for faculty, researchers, or scholars.
- ...use scholarly or technical language specific to the field.
- ...include full citations for sources used.
- ...are often peer-reviewed or refereed.
- ...are NOT book reviews or editorials, even when they are in a scholarly journal.
What's Peer Review?
- Process by which research articles are published in an academic journal.
- Essentially quality tests done by experts that help verify the article's findings, arguments, and conclusions.
- A synonym for refereed articles, as peer reviewers are sometimes called referees.
- For more about peer review, watch the video below!
Evaluating
Not all information is created equal. When conducting your research use these tools to evaluate the sources of information that you find. For more resources on evaluating information check out this guide.
The CRAAP Test
Once you have found a full source (online or print), use the CRAAP Test to determine if you should use it.
Currency
When was the information published or updated? Are the references to other sources up to date? Does currency matter for your topic?
Relevance/Coverage
Is this source relevant to your research question? Does the source meet the requirements of the assignment? Is the information too technical or too simple? Who is the intended audience? Does it add to your knowledge of the topic?
Authority
Who is the author? Is the author part of an educational institution or an organization? Can you find information about the author on the internet or with other resources? How often is this author cited? The author may be an individual or an organization.
Accuracy
Is this information correct and reliable? Are there spelling or grammar errors? Was the information reviewed or edited before it was published? What are other authors writing about the topic?
Purpose/Objectivity
What is the purpose of the information? Is it designed to sway your opinion? Does it project a bias? Are there other points of view presented?
The CRAAP test was creatd by California State University, Chico.