To determine if your sources are scholarly -- usually peer reviewed, you will need to do some research. Keep in mind that while databases do contain scholarly sources, not all sources in a database are scholarly -- think book reviews, opinion pieces, speeches, working papers. Here are a few things to consider when evaluating a source:
To determine if a source is scholarly, you will need to do a bit of evaluation of the source. While the library provides access to databases and databases to contain scholarly sources, not all sources within a database are scholarly -- think book reviews, opinion pieces, working papers. Here are a few things to consider:
| Author | Publisher | Audience | Content | Timeliness |
|
Are author names provided? |
Who is the publisher of the information? | Who is the intended audience? | Are sources cited within the text? | When was the item published? |
|
Are the authors' credentials provided? |
Is the publisher an academic institution, scholarly or professional organization? | Is the language specific to those with knowledge of a specific discipline? | If the sources are cited, where are those sources from? | How frequently is the journal published? |
| Are the credentials relevant to the information? | What is the purpose for publishing this information? | Are conclusions based on evidence? | How recently was the web page updated? | |
| Are the authors connected to professional organizations? | What is the process for getting published? | Is there a bibliography or works cited? | Have other publications referenced this source? |
This link opens in a new windowAccessMedicine provides medical students with a variety of resources needed to excel in basic science studies and clerkships; helps residents, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants with instant access to videos, self-assessment, and leading medical textbooks that facilitate decision-making at the point-of-care; and allows practicing physicians to brush up on their medical knowledge to ensure the best patient outcome.
