4.3: Types of Sources
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Most published sources fall into one of three types: popular, scholarly, or trade. Popular sources are available at newsstands and are written for a general audience. Scholarly sources are based on original research and written by professors or experts in the field. Articles that appear in scholarly journals or books are published by academic presses and are subject to a peer-review process, which means that other experts in the field evaluate the quality and originality of the research before publishing. Trade journals or magazines are written by and for individuals within a particular field. They might not be peer-reviewed, but they are usually edited.
POPULAR SCHOLARLY TRADE
Examples
New York Times, Newsweek, National Geographic
Chemical & Engineering News, Electronic Education Report Author Journalists, staff,
or freelance Scholars with credentials Staff or contributing
authors
Publication Process Edited
Cambridge Opera Journal, Policy Review, Psychiatric Quaterly
Peer-reviewed (other scholars have “double- checked” the work)
Edited
Structure Varies
Sometimes broken into sections like literature review, methods, discussion, conclusion, and references
Varies
Support of Argument Confirmed sources Based lengthy on bibliography
prior research,
Report on industry trends, new products, or techniques
Purpose
To inform, persuade, or entertain
To advance knowledge in the field
To inform within one industry
Scope Often broad Limited to a very narrow
research question
Limited to a specific profession or industry
Audience General public Scholars, students, and
practitioners
Members of specific business or industry
Appearance Glossy photos and
advertising
Plain, sometimes with graphs, tables, maps, or images
Industry-specific ads