What qualifies as scholarly research?

Scholarly research qualifies as in-depth, credible work by experts, typically published in peer-reviewed journals or academic presses, intended to advance knowledge for other scholars, and characterized by detailed methodology, extensive citations, formal language, and presentation of original findings or analysis. Key indicators include expert authors, peer review, formal structure (abstract, methods, results, references), and a specialized, non-entertaining purpose.

What is considered scholarly research?

Scholarly sources are written by researchers and scholars, so people like professors who are affiliated with academic or research institutions. They aim to present and share original research with other researchers and scholars, and they often contain technical jargon and specialized vocabulary.

What is an example of scholarly research?

Examples of scholarly sources include scholarly journals, books, and documentaries. Scholarly journals publish articles written by scholars and researchers. Articles are written for specialized audiences, typically report research in that field, and usually have references or bibliographies.

Does .org count as a scholarly source?

No, a .org domain doesn't automatically make a source scholarly; it indicates a non-profit organization, which can host credible research but often has agendas, so you must evaluate its content, bias, author credentials, and references, as .org sites are unregulated and can be promotional or biased, unlike more regulated .gov (government) or .edu (educational) domains. Scholarly sources are typically peer-reviewed academic works, not just websites. 

How to tell if a source is scholarly?

To know if a source is scholarly, check for peer review, expert authors with affiliations (like universities), a formal tone with technical language, extensive citations (bibliography/footnotes), publication in an academic journal (e.g., Journal of..., Quarterly), and a focus on presenting original research, often found in library databases or Google Scholar. Scholarly sources aim to inform, use complex vocabulary, and have a plain, text-heavy layout, unlike popular magazines. 

What is Scholarly Research?

What are three characteristics of a scholarly source?

Scholarly Journals

• Have a serious appearance.
• The words "Journal," "Transactions," "Proceedings," or "Quarterly," may appear in the title.
• Written for professors, students or researchers.
• Signed by the authors.
• Articles are reviewed by a board of experts or "peer reviewers."

What makes a source not scholarly?

Non-‐scholarly publications are produced by commercial publishers, vanity presses, or other types of publishers. The intended audience of a non-‐scholarly publication is non-‐experts. Non-‐scholarly publications either do not include bibliographies or lists of works cited, or such lists are very short.

What counts as a non-scholarly source?

A non-scholarly source is something published outside of academia, like newspapers, blogs, book reviews, and magazines. It's important to remember that non-scholarly doesn't mean not credible - plenty of newspapers and magazines are credible sources!

Is .org or .gov more reliable?

org sites are less regulated, meaning anyone can register for a website with that domain. . edu, . mil, and . gov sites are MORE REGULATED, and tend to be more reliable.

Is the APA a scholarly source?

APA's rigorous attention to peer review and the presentation of scholarly and technical information has resulted in high quality journals sought by professionals in many disciplines. Increasingly, smaller societies turn to APA to publish their journals.

What are the 4 types of research?

While there are many ways to categorize research, four common types often highlighted are Descriptive (what is it?), Correlational (how are things related?), Experimental (does one thing cause another?), and Exploratory (what's going on here?), with other frameworks focusing on Basic/Fundamental (knowledge for knowledge's sake) vs. Applied (solving a problem) or Qualitative vs. Quantitative. 

What are the 7 basic elements of a scholarly research article?

Scholarly Articles Basics

• Abstract (Read First!)
• Introduction.
• Literature Review.
• Discussion / Conclusion.
• Methods / Methodology.
• Results.
• References.

What are examples of articles that are not scholarly?

Examples include general news, business, and entertainment publications such as Time Magazine, Business Weekly, and Vanity Fair. This can also include . edu and . gov sources you've found on the Internet, that have not been verified as a scholarly source.

What is the difference between scholarly and non scholarly?

Generally, non-scholarly sources do not examine a topic with the level of detail and sophistication that your professor expects. They are not authoritative (the authors are often not academics). They are written to entertain and broadly inform, rather than to advance a field of study.

What websites count as scholarly sources?

Websites produced by government departments, representing industry bodies, universities or research centers often contain useful information such as statistics, policies, reports and case studies and are considered scholarly.

What is the definition of research scholarly?

Research is a systematic, exhaustive, and intensive investigation and study of a topic, often employing hypothesis and experimentation, to discover new knowledge, facts, theories, principles, and laws.

Is .edu or .com more reliable?

edu or . gov originate from accredited postsecondary educational institutions or US government offices. As such, they are usually more credible than .com or . cc websites that may have a commercial focus.

How to check if a source is credible?

To know if a source is credible, use the CRAAP Test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose) to evaluate its timeliness, fit, author's expertise, factual correctness (checking citations), and objectivity, looking for clear credentials, cited evidence, a professional tone, and multiple perspectives rather than sensationalism or bias. 

Is .gov considered a scholarly source?

Government documents and government websites are generally considered authoritative, credible sources of information. Many are scholarly, and some are even peer-reviewed! But, not all gov docs are scholarly or peer-reviewed. Government agencies produce a wide range of publications, for different purposes.

How do I tell if a source is scholarly?

So, How Do You Know if a Source is Scholarly? If an article is published in a peer-reviewed journal, it's scholarly. If an article is published in an academic journal that is not peer-reviewed, it may be scholarly, but it may not.

What type of source is considered to be the most scholarly?

The most common types of scholarly sources are those published in academic journals, but they can also include published books, conferences, dissertations, reports, and more. Scholarly sources are also referred to as academic, peer-reviewed, or refereed sources.

What are the 5 characteristics of a credible source?

The five key characteristics of a credible source, often remembered by the CRAAP test, are Currency (timeliness), Relevance (importance to your topic), Authority (author's expertise), Accuracy (truthfulness/evidence), and Purpose (reason for the information), which together determine its reliability for research. 

Is a thesis paper a scholarly source?

Last Updated: May 29, 2025 21065

Dissertations and theses have value as research material, and they are an important form of scholarly communication.

What qualifies an article as scholarly?

A scholarly article is a piece of academic writing that reports original research, reviews existing studies, or presents a critical analysis within a discipiline. These articles are written by experts, for experts, and are intended to advance knowledge in that specific field.