What is a database?
Databases are like libraries. They house information from hundreds of resources like magazines, newspapers, trade publications and scholarly journals.
Ok, but what is a scholarly journal?
A scholarly journal publishes articles by people who are experts in their field. These articles are intended to be read by people who are also working in that field. The articles will also be edited by people in that field. This is called peer review. Not every article in a scholarly journal is scholarly, though. Journals sometimes contain reviews, letters and editorials that don’t go trhough the peer review process.
How do I tell if an article is scholarly then?
Look at who the author is. Does it give you their credentials? How long is the article? Scholarly articles can be fairly long – if an article is only a page or two long, it is probably not scholarly. Look for references or works cited lists. The authors should tell you where they got their information.
How do I know which database to use?
You have two choices. Choice one, use a general database like Academic Search Premier or JSTOR. Choice two, go to a LibGuide on your area of interest and find one that relates to your topic.
You WILL have professors tell you to use only scholarly sources on assignments, so use this information to help you decide if what you are looking at is scholarly or not.
