Langara Library Research Help
Additional Resources
Subject and Assignment Guides Find Your Librarian
For help anytime with assignments, Ask a Librarian.
Reading Your Search Results
Academic vs. Popular Sources: What's the Difference?
For some assignments you may be required to use academic, scholarly, or peer-reviewed articles. However, you will find many types of sources in the library search, including academic articles, books, videos, and magazine/newspaper articles.
Identifying some common differences between them will help you choose the most appropriate types of sources for your assignment.
What are Scholarly Articles?
Scholarly journal articles, also known as peer-reviewed or academic articles, are articles in which researchers report their research findings, critical analyses, and new ideas. These articles have been evaluated and critiqued by other researchers and experts in the same field before they are published. Need more explanation? Check out:
- Quick Guide on the Difference between Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines
- A short video (courtesy of NCSU Library)
Spot the Difference
Sometimes you can tell if an article is scholarly by searching for context clues. Click through the slides below to spot the differences between a non-scholarly article and its peer-reviewed counterpart.
Popular vs. Academic: Compare and Contrast
| Popular magazine/newspaper | Academic / Scholarly / Peer Reviewed | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Provides general information, news, or entertainment | Reports research results |
| Audience | General public | Researchers, professionals, and/or specialists in the field |
| Author | Journalist or staff writer, sometimes anonymous | Researcher or specialist in the field; name, credentials, and affiliations are provided |
| Language | Easy to understand, little or no specialized terms used | Academic or technical terms used; can be hard to understand |
| Structure | No specific format or structure | May include distinct sections, such as abstract, methodology, results, conclusion, bibliography |
| References | Generally no bibliography; may list sources that were mentioned in the article | Bibliography (works cited list) at the end and/or footnotes to document research |
Finding Materials in the Library
If you have found a print book or DVD that you would like to find, you'll need to write down the item's call number.
This number is the book's address. It tells you exactly where to look on the shelf. It will be printed on the spine of the book.
Reading a Call Number
All resources in the Library have a code, or “call number” on their spine. This call number helps you locate the item in the Library.
| HD | Books are arranged alphabetically. This book is located in the HD section of the Library. |
| 9993 | Numbers follow the letters. Once in the HD section, count up to 9993. |
E452 H37 | The next line(s) have a letter and a number. Read the letters in alphabetical order, then read the numbers. The numbers should be read as decimal numbers. So, E.452 would come before E.5. |
| 2014 | The year of publication is the next part of the call number. This book was published in 2014. |
Locations
| 1st Floor: | Reserve Books, DVDs, Reference Books, Drama Collection, ESL Resources, Graphic Novels, Fiction Collection, Journals & Magazines Collection |
| 2nd Floor: | Books with Call Numbers A-F |
| 3rd Floor: | Books with Call Numbers G-Z |
If you follow these instructions, you should be able to find the item you are looking for.
