| Scholarly/Academic Sources | Popular Sources | |
| Examples: | Peer-reviewed journal articles and books/book chapters | Magazines and newspapers |
| Author is usually: |
Scholar in field, academic, or researcher |
Staff writer, journalist, often a generalist |
| Credit/Sources: | Always many references and/or footnotes |
Rarely cites sources, original sources may be obscure |
| Length: | Articles and chapters are typically 10+ pages | Usually brief |
| Advertisements: | Usually do not contain ads | Usually have ads |
Select sources after carefully thinking about the types of information that you would like to find.
To find background information or an overview of a topic:
To find up-to-date information on current events:
To find scholarly information on a topic:
To find additional sources within bibliographies or footnotes:
To discover new research ideas, emerging trends, or to gain an historical perspective on research:
To find current news, products, and trends within a specific trade or industry or practical information from practitioners: