IQP Research Guide: Evaluating Sources

Check the Anatomy of a Scholarly Article to find out what a scholarly article generally looks like.  Please note that this is only one example of the format of a scholarly article. Scholarly articles can also contain headings such as methodology, discussion of results etc.

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What are their advantages?

Scholarly: Articles are usually evaluated by experts before publication (peer reviewed). Footnotes or bibliographies support research and point to further research on the topic. Authors dsecribe methodology and and supply data to support research results.

Popular: Written for non-specialists. Timely coverage of popular topics and current events. Good sources for topics related to popular culture.

Trade: Timely coverage of industry trends. Sometimes contain short bibliographies. Shorter articles that are informal and practical.

What are their disadvantages?

Scholarly: Articles often use specialized terminology of the field that can be difficult for non-specialists to read. Scholarly journals are expensive and may not be readily available. Research and review process takes time; not as useful for current events or popular culture.

Popular: Articles are selected by editors who may know little about the topic. Authors usually do not cite sources. Published to make a profit; the line between informing and selling may be blurred.

Trade: Not peer reviewed, though author is usually a professional in the field. Use of specialized terminology of the field. Evidence drawn from personal experience or common knowledge but NOT rigorous research.

Adapted from: Evaluating Sources: Using the RADAR Framework,  Loyola Marymount University

Peer-Review Definition

Peer-review: "A process by which a scholarly work (such as a paper or a research proposal) is checked by a group of experts in the same field to make sure it meets the necessary standards before it is published or accepted."

  - Merriam Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peer%20review 

What are "peer-reviewed" journals?

A peer-reviewed journal is a respected academic publication. Before articles are published within these types of journals, they are sent by the editors of the journal to other scholars in the field ("peers"), often anonymously, to get feedback on the quality of the scholarship, review research methods, as well as relevance or importance to the field. The article may be accepted, often with revisions suggested, or rejected for publication.  

Peer-reviewed journals are highly respected, and researchers wish to have their works published in them. Many often have low acceptance rates.

One way to find peer reviewed articles is to type your keywords into WPI Library Search, and then choose the filter for Peer-reviewed Journals. You can also search our Databases (organized by subject) for peer-reviewed articles.