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ECD 202, Cornelius, Boyce: Scholarly Sources

Scholarly vs Popular

Learn the differences between scholarly academic articles and popular magazines. Academic journals are often required for research assignments.

from Vanderbilt University


What are scholarly sources?

The publication should be a scholarly journal not a newspaper or popular magazine.
The authors are scholars or professionals in the field and are normally affiliated with an educational institution or organization.
The article should have an abstract, citations and reference list.
Look for a phrases like “this study examines…” or “we did research to find…”
Articles are lengthy with few pictures.
Does not include any advertisements.

Scholarly Journals vs Popular Magazines

scholarly vs popular

Image: Spence School Libraries


Example: Scholarly Article

Example: Popular Magazine

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