Evaluating Scientific Sources

When researching, you may encounter many different types of articles.  Some examples to be aware of include:

• Empirical Study:  An article that focused on original research findings. The purpose is to communicate what the research found.
• Literature Review: An article that employs and/or analyzes previously published articles. Authors pull from other's research to make their arguments or unite information around an original concept.
• Professional Trade Article:  An article intended for professionals in a specific field. Generally not considered scholarly.
• Popular Science Article:  An article written for the general public to inform or entertain. Generally not considered scholarly.

When determining the best type of source for our intended use, it's important to examine for reliability, audience, and context. Some things to think about include:

• Author
  • Are they an expert in their field?  A scholar? A journalist?
  • What are their credentials?
• Audience
  • Who was this written for? Scholars? Popular audiences?
• Publisher
  • Is the institution responsible for this information credible?
• Purpose
  • Why was this written?  To report insight?  To relay news?  To entertain?