Fundamentals of Speech

A scholarly source is an article or publication written by a subject-matter expert who ensures that the information it contains is updated, accurate, and of utmost quality. Usually, this information is derived from their findings, theories, analyses, and insights from years of research.
Scholarly sources can include journal articles, books, conference publications, and even websites.

Information used from: Elsevier Author Services. (2023, August 4). What are scholarly sources and where can you find them?

webshop.elsevier.com/research-process/scholarly-sources-what-are-they-and-where-can-you-find-them/

As opposed to scholarly sources, popular sources may not be written by subject matter experts. These include newspapers, magazines, book reviews, and editorials, which are non-technical and appeal to the common public. Although they are easier to understand, they may not always contain reliable information.

Scholarly sources undergo a rigorous peer-review process before they are published for the verification of facts or for the identification of conflicts of interest. They are, therefore, much more reliable.

Information used from: Elsevier Author Services. (2023, August 4). What are scholarly sources and where can you find them?

webshop.elsevier.com/research-process/scholarly-sources-what-are-they-and-where-can-you-find-them/

1. Provide credibility

Citing scholarly sources is the best way to establish credibility of your research publication.

2. Lend authority

Since scholarly sources contain verified expert knowledge, citing them lends authority to your research submission.

3. Ensure impartiality

Scholarly sources prevent confirmation bias. Since they are derived from years of research on a subject, they offer authentic, unbiased views of the research topic, which is highly preferable.

Information used from: Elsevier Author Services. (2023, August 4). What are scholarly sources and where can you find them?

webshop.elsevier.com/research-process/scholarly-sources-what-are-they-and-where-can-you-find-them/

A great place to look for scholarly sources is the UCO Library. We subscribe to large information packages (primarily paid for by your library fees as part of your tuition) so that you can have access to many scholarly sources as well as other types of information. 

Look through our research guides to discover databases that work best for any given research area. 

There are other outside resources such as Google Scholar that contain scholarly sources, but be on the lookout for sites that ask you to pay for information. Odds are, one of our librarians can help you find it elsewhere.