Skip to Main Content

Psychology

Introduction to research in Psychology.

Scholarly vs. Popular

What are Scholarly Sources?

  • Intended for academic research (written BY scholars FOR scholars) 

  • Cite (credible) sources 

  • Published in/as:

    • Scholarly/Academic Journals (often Peer Reviewed)

    • Theses or Dissertations

    • Books or Book Chapters 

What are Popular Sources?

  • Intended for a general audience (potentially for a specific demographic or community) 

  • Credibility varies (may not cite sources) 

  • Useful for perspectives, opinions, and very current events 

  • Published in/as:

    • Newspapers and Magazines (articles, opinions, editorials)

    • Websites or Blogs

    • Social Media

    • Infographics, Online Video, or Podcasts 

How to Read a Scholarly Article (INFOGRAPHIC)

See below for accessible text.

How to Read a Scholarly Article

Abstract

An abstract is a summary of the article. In addition to introducing the topic, abstracts often include information about research methods and results.

Introduction and Conclusion

The introduction outlines the author’s plans for the article and can help you determine which parts of the article will be most useful to you. The conclusion section reviews all of the ideas and findings from the rest of the paper.

Topic Sentences

Topic sentences can help you determine whether that paragraph will include anything relevant to your research, or if you can skim (or skip) it.

Entire Article

Read the rest of the article, skimming through sections that are not relevant to your research.

References/Bibliography

Need more sources for your assignment?

Citations listed at the end of a scholarly article can be a great place to find additional relevant sources. Use the library’s databases or E-Journal Portal to search for the article or journal titles.