Scholarly sources, also called academic sources, consist of sources that distribute academic research and scholarship. Most scholarly sources are published in academic journal or book form. The authors of scholarly sources are typically scholars and academics, including faculty and students, with known institutional affiliations. The intended audience for these materials is typically researchers, scholars, academics (faculty and students), and other highly informed readers.
You may also hear scholarly sources reviewed to as peer reviewed sources. Peer review is a common, though not universal, process in scholarly publishing whereby a work is reviewed by other experts in the field before publication. There are a variety of styles of peer review, with varying levels of anonymity for the author and reviewers and transparency to the reader. Peer review is intended to evaluate the quality of the scholarship, and ensure that only high quality scholarship is published. If mistakes are made, or research findings are later found to be inaccurate, reputable journals have systems of issuing corrections and retractions to their readers.
Depending on your research area, substantive sources can be very valuable research tools. They are more detailed and reliable than popular sources, but are often easier to read and more timely than scholarly sources. They are typically written by journalists or subject experts; what sets them apart from popular sources is that they are trusted to be thoroughly researched and fact checked. Substantive sources identify their sources, which can be valuable as you continue on your research journey.
Grey literature is one term for materials and research produced by organizations or people outside the traditional commercial/journalistic or academic publishing worlds. Common forms of grey literature include government reports, research reports produced by organizations, conference proceedings, and white papers. Grey literature is generally written by and for professionals in a field, and typically employs technical and formal language. It is typically reviewed by a professional editor before its release and often includes references.
The grey literature you need depends on your research area. In organic chemistry, you may consult patents. In history, you may consult government reports. See your instructor or a librarian if you need help identifying the grey literature applicable to your research.
Popular sources are generally not good sources to cite for scholarly research (unless, of course, they are part of your primary source material), but they can provide helpful context for how a topic is discussed in the general discourse.
| SCHOLARLY | SUBSTANTIVE | GREY | POPULAR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIENCE |
Primarily academics, including faculty, researchers, and students |
General public seeking deeper knowledge |
Primarily professionals in the field, sometimes researchers or academics |
General public, seeking entertainment and basic information |
| AUTHOR |
Scholars, experts, or specialists |
Typically either journalists or scholars |
Typically professionals or industry experts. Sometimes authored by an organization |
Typically professional writers, not necessarily experts in the field |
| CONTENT / TONE |
Employs scholarly and technical language Often difficult to read for those not in the field Reports current and innovative research and scholarship |
Reports on and explores a given topic in depth. |
Employs technical and formal language Often heavy with field-specific jargon |
Typically easy to read Written to entertain and/or inform |
| REVIEW PROCESS / REFERENCES |
Typically involves peer review prior to publication Includes references |
Reviewed by editor and fact checker employed by publication Usually includes references |
Typically reviewed by editor and fact checker employed by publication/organization Often includes references |
Typically reviewed by editor employed by publication, but not typically formally fact checked Doesn't typically include sources |
| EXAMPLES |
Journal of the American Chemical Society Language and Literature American Art |
The New Yorker Huffington Post Highline Jacobin |
Government report Research report White paper Conference proceedings |
People Time Sports Illustrated |
VCU Libraries. (2020, January 23). Find Substantive Sources [LibGuide]. Virginia Commonwealth University. https://guides.library.vcu.edu/substantive