Scholarly sources are written by highly-qualified researchers and have a thorough publication process, which usually involves peer-reviewing and an extensive list of references at the end of the text. Scholarly sources often have a specific audience in mind, most likely other experts in the particular field of study.
Examples of scholarly sources include books and academic journals written by scholars and experts.
Source: Evaluating Sources: Where to Begin (Purdue Online Writing Lab OWL)
Popular sources, on the other hand, are written by and intended for a general audience. Popular sources are not peer-reviewed, and they do not usually include a reference list.
Examples of popular sources range from some books and magazines to websites and blogs.
Source: Evaluating Sources: Where to Begin (Purdue Online Writing Lab OWL)
If you’re unsure whether the source you’re reading is scholarly or popular, ask yourself these questions:
If the source you’re examining fits the above criteria, it is most likely a scholarly source.
Source: Evaluating Sources: Where to Begin (Purdue Online Writing Lab OWL)
