Collins Memorial Library: SSI2-110: Examining Dogs Through the Lens of Science : Home

Start your research at the library!

Use this guide to get started with your research for SSI2 110:

Examining Dogs Through the Lens of Science!

anatomical engraving c. 1889, via wikimedia commons

What kind of source and why?

Types of Sources: Popular & Scholarly

For your research at Puget Sound, you will need to be able to distinguish between various types of information sources, some of which will be more appropriate to use than others, depending on the context.

Criteria	Popular Magazine	Trade Journal	Scholarly Journal
Example
Content	Secondary discussion of someone else's research; may include personal narrative or opinion; generalinformation, purpose is to entertain or inform.	Current news, trends andproducts in a specific industry; practical information for professionals working in the field or industry.	In-depth, primary account of originalfindings written by the researcher(s); very specific information, with the goal of scholarly communication.
Author	Author is frequently a journalist paid to write articles, may or may not have subject expertise.	Author is usually a professional in the field, sometimes a journalist with subject expertise.	Author's credentials are provided; usually a scholar or specialist with subject expertise.
Audience	General public; the interested non-specialist.	Professionals in the field; the interested non-specialist.	Scholars, researchers, and students.
Language	Vocabulary in general usage; easily understandable to most readers.	Specialized terminology or jargon of the field, but not as technical as a scholarly journal.	Specialized terminology or jargon of the field; requires expertise in subject area.
Graphics	Graphs, charts and tables; lots of glossy advertisements and photographs.	Photographs; some graphics and charts; advertisements targeted to professionals in the field.	Graphs, charts, and tables; very few advertisements and photographs.
Layout & Organization	Informal; may include non-standard formatting. May not present supporting evidence or a conclusion.	Informal; articles organized like a journal or a newsletter. Evidence drawn from personal experience or common knowledge.	Structured; includes the article abstract, goals and objectives, methodology, results (evidence), discussion, conclusion, and bibliography.
Accountability	Articles are evaluated by editorial staff, not experts in the field; edited for format and style.	Articles are evaluated by editorial staff who may be experts in the field, not peer-reviewed; edited for format and style*.	Articles are evaluated by peer-reviewers* or referees who are experts in the field; edited for content, format, and style.
References	Rare. Little, if any, information about source materials is given.	Occasional brief bibliographies, but not required.	Required. Highly structured in format. Quotes and facts are verifiable.
Paging	Each issue generally begins with page 1.	Each issue generally begins with page 1.	Page numbers are generally consecutive throughout the volume.