Instructors often request that you use research from scholarly or "academic" journals. Articles in journals present in-depth, original research in a specific field of study. These articles have been reviewed by other scholars in the field for scholastic standards and validity. Sometimes these articles are called "peer-reviewed" because of the rigorous process of review they undergo before publication.
Scholarly articles differ from popular articles available in magazines and newspapers. Popular articles are written for the public, while scholarly articles are written for the academic community. Popular articles often use easy to understand language, include photos and graphics, and do not cite their sources using formal in-text citations.
Most scholarly articles are NOT available on the Web. Instead, try the library databases:
