This document compares scholarly and popular sources across four major criteria: purpose, authority, audience, and content. Scholarly sources are intended to report original research, are written by experts and published by reputable publishers, use specialized language for other experts, and contain in-depth analysis, references, and research. Popular sources are intended to entertain or inform general audiences, are often written by non-experts, use informal language, and contain summaries and eye-catching graphics instead of in-depth analysis.
5. PURPOSE
Informs or reports
on original research
Research done by
scholars or experts
in the field
Contains in-depth
analysis
Entertains or
informs a general
audience
Not in-depth
6. AUTHORITY
Written by subject
specialists and experts in the
field
Author has appropriate
credentials
Published by a reputable
publisher
Has gone through an
editing/peer-review process
Written by journalists,
editors, freelance writers,
and the like
Author does not have
appropriate credentials
Can be self-published
Not peer-reviewed
7. AUDIENCE
Written for a
scholarly audience
Uses jargon specific
to the field of
research covered
Uses formal
language
Written for a
general audience
Does not use jargon
or difficult words
More informal in
tone
8. CONTENT
Often lengthy
Includes charts and graphs,
but few photographs or
eye-catching images
Has original research,
critiques, theories, or is an
in-depth literature review
Has many references to
other scholarly works
Often short - 1 pg. or less
Includes eye-catching
graphics and photographs
Has advertising
Includes summaries of news
and topics of general
interest
Typically does not have
references
