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Finding scholarly sources

This Guide will help you determine what scholarly, or peer-reviewed articles, look like and where and how to find them.

Finding scholarly sources

During your research you will need to use scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources for your assignment. You want the most reliable and up-to-date information. Determining the right sources to use, and evaluating those sources in an important skill. Scholarly articles are some of the best resources for a research project. That means that you need to find an article that was published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Scholarly articles is one authored by academics for a specific audience, generally published by an organization with academic goals and missions. They are well respected for the information and research they provide on a particular subject. They are written by experts in a particular field or discipline and their purpose is to advance the ongoing work within their discipline. These articles might present original research data and findings, or take a position on a key question within the field. 

Peer reviewed materials are publications reviewed by "experts in the field" before the publication of the material. After reading and evaluating the material, the authors' peers informs the publisher if the document should be published or if any changes should be made prior to publication. Peer reviewed materials are important to the research and the literature of most academic fields because they assure readers that the information conveyed is reliable and timely.