Scholarly vs Non Scholarly

An infographic explaining the difference between scholarly and non-scholarly sources. Producer. Under scholarly sources, the author is an academic expert. Under popular sources, the author is not an academic expert. Not affiliated with or recognised within academic circles. Purpose. Scholarly sources add to the body of knowledge in a field. Popular sources convince, inform, entertain etc. Process. Scholarly sources. Claims and methods have been checked by academic experts. Popular sources are checked by non- academic experts (or not checked at all). Product. Scholarly sources claims are supported by academic sources. They report the latest developments. Popular sources claims are not supported by academic sources. They report the latest developments

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Scholarly Sources

Producer
Scholarly when the Author is an expert. Non Scholarly when the author is not an expert i.e. not affiliated with or recognised within academic circles.

Purpose
Scholarly when the aim is to add knowledge to a field. Non Scholarly when the aim is to convince, inform or entertain.

Process
Scholarly when the claims and methods have been checked by academic experts (peer review). Non Scholarly when check by non-academic experts or not at all.

Product
Scholarly when claims are supported with the latest developments available in academic sources. Non Scholarly when claims are not supported by academic sources.

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Read this article example:

Marcel E. Visser

"Keeping up with a warming world; assessing the rate of adaptation to climate change"

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Series B: Biological Sciences

Volume 275, Number 1635/ March 22, 2008

Special Issue 'Evolutionary dynamics of wild populations' compiled and edited by Loeske E. B. Kruuk and William G. Hill

Is this a scholarly or non-scholarly article?

Choose your answer from the two choices below using the drop down arrow

Correct! Peer reviewed journal articles are the most scholarly material available. Collect your certificate here. Congratulations.

Not Quite. Peer reviewed journal articles are scholarly material. Remember to consider the REVIEW method.