SPARK

Books, articles, and other such sources are usually considered to be “scholarly” or “popular” but could also be "professional"; understanding the difference between the three is critical!

As a university student you are a scholar, but might also be a professional in training. You are conducting research, thinking critically, and adding to the scholarly conversation through your written work. Your professor is likely to ask you to use scholarly resources, which may include academic books and journal articles written by experts or researchers in a specific field. Professors prefer scholarly sources because they have used rigorous and critical methods. In some disciplines you can also find many professional publications that are aimed at the practice of a profession rather than on reporting research findings; these are also called "trade publications."

There are, however, times when popular sources are appropriate. Popular sources, such as magazines, newspapers, blogs, or podcasts (as just a few examples) are very useful for current commentary on a topic or issue.

Scholarly sources share the following traits:

• written for a specialized audience that knows the language of the subject/discipline
• researched and written by experts in methodologies of a subject/discipline
• published by an academic publisher or for-profit publisher specializing in resources for university students and faculty
• have footnotes/endnotes and a large bibliography/works cited page

Professional/Trade sources share the following traits:

• written for people training for or working in a specific profession or industry
• written by someone who is a practitioner or researcher in a specific profession or industry
• published by a commercial publisher or professional association
• may or may not have footnotes/endnotes and a large bibliography/works cited page

Popular sources share the following traits:

• written for a general audience, with little technical or specialized language
• written by someone who knows something about the topic but not necessarily an “expert” (e.g., journalist, hobbyist)
• published by a commercial publisher whose target market is a general audience
• may contain few or no references

Some publications do not neatly fit into the categories of “scholarly,” "professional," or “popular”. There are some publications that may be mixed or ambiguous in nature. If you are uncertain about the appropriateness of using a publication for your research, consult your professor or a librarian.

The following photo illustrates how in one subject area you can find popular, trade, and scholarly publications. Be aware of what kinds of sources you are using and whether they are appropriate for your needs.