Scholarly and Peer-Reviewed Sources
What is a "scholarly" source?
A scholarly article:
- is based on original research or experimentation
- is written by a researcher or expert in the field who is often affiliated with a college or university
- includes footnotes and/or a bibliography
- may include graphs or charts as illustrations instead of glossy pictures
- appears in a schlolarly journal published by an academic press
For more information see: Types of Periodicals
What does "peer-reviewed" mean?
Peer-reviewed journals (or "refereed" journals) are scholarly journals that only publish articles that have passed through a review process:
Other scholars in the author's field or specialty read the article and determine the merit of the manuscript.
The review process helps ensure that the published articles reflect credible scholarship in their fields. The reputation of the journal depends on the publication of credible scholarship.
Peer Review in Three Minutes
Right click and open the video in a new tab to view!
Video created by North Carolina State University Libraries.
Evaluating Sources
HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD INFORMATION?
Use the CRAAP test!
- CRAAP TESTTest for evaluating information!
Databases
- Music Periodicals Database (ProQuest)ProQuest's Music Periodicals Database -- formerly International Index to Music Periodicals (IIMP) -- offers access to over 425 international music periodicals, of which 140 are full text. While the majority of journal articles are from 1996 onward, this database also includes journal articles from as early as 1874. ProQuest's Music Periodicals Database covers the full spectrum of music, including music education, musicology, music theory, performance, ethnomusicology, musical theatre, classical music, opera, jazz, pop culture, popular music forms, and composition.
- JSTORJSTOR offers access to retrospective issues of selected core scholarly journals in many disciplines, including music. It includes full-text access to about 50 music journals, and partial or citation level access to many more.
- Ulrich's International Periodicals This link opens in a new windowUlrich's is an index that lists over 300,000 periodicals and journals by title, and provides information on the publisher, indexing and subjects. It can be used to determine whether a journal is peer reviewed (refereed).