There are a variety of specialised information types within the academic environment. You may be required to use particular types of sources in your assessments.
Peer-reviewed articles (also known as refereed articles) undergo an extensive editorial process and professional scrutiny to ensure accuracy and high quality.
Check if a journal is peer-reviewed
In some databases, you can limit search results to peer-reviewed articles only [select the 'Scholarly' or 'Peer-reviewed articles' limiter].
Select the 'Peer-reviewed journals' filter when using Library search. In the results list, articles will display the peer reviewed icon.
Search for the journal title on Ulrichsweb and look for the referee uniform icon.
The journal's website may list peer-reviewed information.
Scholarly sources
Written by experts with academic qualifications and/or authoritative knowledge in the field
Evidence-based
Aimed at a scholarly audience
Include references
Not always peer-reviewed, and therefore warrant checking
Primary sources
Primary sources provide a first-hand account of an event or time period. They are usually the first formal appearance of original research.
Examples of primary resources
Original documents e.g. birth certificates, trial transcripts
Biographies, autobiographies, manuscripts
Creative art works, literature
Speeches, oral histories, interviews
Diaries, letters, ships' logs
Theses or dissertations
Constitutions, case law, legislation, regulations,
Government documents, statistical data, research reports
Journal articles reporting new research or findings (original research)
Newspaper reportage and editorial/opinion pieces
Secondary sources
Secondary sources offer an analysis, interpretation or restatement of primary sources.
Examples of secondary sources
Journal articles that analyse or comment on research
