Most assignments require that you use information from "academic sources". What is an academic source? How do I identify one?
An academic or scholarly source seeks to clearly communicate concepts in a particular discipline such as nursing, business, psychology etc.
It is often appropriate and necessary to also refer to non-academic publications in an assignment. Be guided by the set requirements for the particular assignment. If in doubt about the suitability of a particular article for an assignment task, ask your tutor.
These are some of the main types of scholarly journal articles:
Academic / Scholarly journals | Non-academic Journals | |
---|---|---|
Example |
|
|
References | In-text citations, Reference list at the end | Few or no references, self-referenced |
Author | Academic or qualified professional in the discipline | Anyone, sometimes affiliated with a product or practice being promoted |
Appearance / Format | Text based and may include tables, charts and figures, little or no advertising | Advertising, glossy images |
Intended audience | Students, academics and other professionals in the discipline | Anyone |
Bias | Weighs and presents all evidence fairly | May provide only one view |
Content | Discipline specific language, includes an abstract, generally substantial in length | Plain English, usually shorter articles |
Learn how to: