Expos 20: The Underworld: Basic Research Concepts

PRIMARY SOURCE
The raw, unanalyzed material of scholarship (Harvard Guide to Using Sources). Examples: Novels, diaries, correspondence, posters, data, interviews, government documents, cartoons, films, maps, manuscripts.

SECONDARY SOURCE
Analysis or commentary on a primary source.

PEER REVIEW
"A system of intellectual quality control" (Anderson, p. 64) in which articles and books are evaluated anonymously by other experts (the author's "peers") before being accepted for publication. Articles and books that are peer-reviewed (or "refereed") are considered the most authoritative scholarly publications. But not all scholarly publishers use anonymous peer review; some have an editor, or a team of editors, assess the validity and originality of an article or a book.

SCHOLARLY SOURCE
A published source that:

• Cites its sources in notes and bibliographies
• Is written by a scholar or researcher in the field (how do you know?)
• Is written in the technical language of the discipline
• Is aimed at a readership familiar with the terms and concepts of the field
• May be published by a scholarly or professional association; by a university press (e.g., Harvard University Press); or by a non-university press that specializes in academic books (Brill, Routledge, others)
• Is usually peer-reviewed
• Examples: Journals in JSTOR

CREDIBLE POPULAR SOURCE
A published source that:

• Usually doesn't cite sources formally, but may mention them in passing
• Is written by an expert in the field or a well-informed journalist or freelance writer
• Is written in non-technical language
• Is aimed at a general audience of educated, interested readers
• Although not peer-reviewed, adheres to standards of accuracy, journalistic ethics, and a clearly-stated editorial policy.
• Is published by a commercial or nonprofit publisher
• Examples: The Atlantic, Harper's, The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Economist

DUBIOUS POPULAR SOURCE
A published source that:

• Doesn't mention sources, except the names of people being quoted
• Isn't assigned to a writer based on special knowledge
• Is written in non-technical language
• Is written to entertain a general audience and to increase readership
• May not adhere to standards of accuracy or journalistic ethics
• Is published by a commercial enterprise
• Examples: People, National Enquirer, Buzzfeed

In a research paper, depending on your topic and your instructor's requirements, it's appropriate to use a blend of primary sources, peer-reviewed secondary sources, and other secondary sources written by experts or well-informed writers. Your primary sources may not necessarily be reliable or truthful accounts; they may even be from publications that would not be considered as valid secondary sources, such as popular magazines and websites.

CREDENTIALS
Does the author have a relevant academic or institutional affiliation? Has the author published other books or articles on the subject? (Example: Books by Bart D. Ehrman)

PURPOSE
Why, and for whom, was the source written? Is the author engaging in a conversation with other scholars, or is this a personal response to an issue or text? Does the author have some kind of financial stake in expressing a particular point of view? Does the author work for an organization with a known viewpoint on the issues discussed in the source? It's important to make sure that you ask these questions so that you'll know whether a source is of limited use to you due to a bias or a particular perspective.

SCOPE
What does the source cover, and in what depth? Is the argument that it makes relevant to your topic? Does it lay out background information relevant to your topic or summarize other research? (Example: The Buddhist Hell Parks of Thailand)

PUBLISHER
Is the publication a peer-reviewed journal or a university press book? Is it published by an organization with a known viewpoint or financial stake in an issue? Articles and books published by organizations with political affiliations or financial interests may be useful to you as you learn about a topic, but you should be aware of how these affiliations and interests might shape the data or arguments in the source. (Example from The Sixteenth Century Journal)

CURRENCY
Depending on the field of study, it may be crucial to use the most recently published sources.

adapted from The Harvard Guide to Using Sources