Sources are created with specific purposes in mind. For example, reference material has been created to provide basic facts and overviews of topics. Think about what your research need is and then search for the type of resource that would have been created to fill that need.
Primary sources, which originate at the time of an event, are published first. Secondary sources analyze primary sources and are published later. Tertiary sources bring together various sources. Research draws upon primary and secondary sources. The infographic provides some examples and details of each source type.
Information Timeline Graphic by adstarkel. Used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
When an event first happens, there is not a lot of information about it because information takes time to create. As your event recedes into the past, there has been time for more accurate and in-depth information to have been created. If you are not finding information on your event, consider where your event is in this timeline. Has there been enough time for a scholarly article to have been written about your event?
(Image from Randolph Community College Library)
Scholarly articles and popular articles can often look similar, but there are important differences between the two. Use the graphic above to help you decide whether a resource is scholarly or popular in nature. Your librarian will also be able to identify a resource as scholarly or popular.
Peer review is part of the process of publishing an article in a scholarly journal. Scholars in a field evaluate each other's work to ensure that research is valid, significant, and original before it is published. This process is crucial for maintaining the integrity and quality of academic literature.