Information Sources

What are Academic or Scholarly Publications?

Academic or Scholarly Publications are journals or other publications that aim to advance knowledge, educate, & discuss important topics in a field or subject area. Many Academic or Scholarly Publications are also peer-reviewed journals, but not all! Typically, articles from these publications provide in-depth, primary accounts of original research, but they can also include articles that review products or discuss developments in the field.

• Authors & Editors: Written by scholar(s), researcher(s), or subject specialist(s) who did the research described in the article; articles are often evaluated by peer-reviewers or referees who are experts in the field. Learn more about the peer review process.
• Audience: Other experts and researchers in a field, professionals in a specific industry, and interested non-specialists
• Appearance & Format: Uses specialized terminology or jargon. Often follows a format that includes an Abstract, Literature Review, Methodology, and other sections. View the typical format here.
• Citation: Bibliography or references are required.