scholarly vs popular resources
Scholarly=peer-reviewed=refereed=academic. What does it all mean? See our online guide detailing the important differences between popular (magazines and newspapers) and scholarly (journal) resources.
Primary Sources
Information sources can be categorized as primary or secondary. As you start thinking about your topic and where to start, consider whether you need primary or secondary sources and which types of sources would be best for your research, and consult the online primary sources guide.
Subject Headings and Keywords
Subject vs Keyword
- Subject search = Few, highly precise results
- Keyword search = Many results with mixed relevance
A subject search can be different than a keyword search. Subject is usually shorthand for the library-speak term Library of Congress Subject Heading, which basically means controlled-vocabulary term. For example, libraries use the term capital punishment, rather than death penalty, to classify their materials on the topic.
A keyword can be a natural-language term. In an online library setting, a keyword search will generally look for the term in the entire document, including the title and the body of the article.
