There are three types of sources: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Each source type has a different purpose, determined by how it is used in relation to the other sources you are using and the scope of your research. It is important to use a strong mixture of source types in order to have well rounded research.
Primary Source - The Original (idea, theory, resource, item, etc.)
Secondary Source - Commentary (analysis, criticism, critique) on the Original
Tertiary Source - Summary of the Original (e.g. Reference Resources)
Scholarly Journals, also known as Academic Journals, are written by scholars for scholars. Often these materials are peer-reviewed, or approved by a group of experts in the field prior to publication, but not all are peer-reviewed. To check this either search the publication website or use Ulrich's Web to determine if the Journal is peer-reviewed.
Authors: Scholars or Researchers
Publisher: University Press, Professional Association, Respected Institution
Audience: Scholars, Researchers, Practitioners
References: Formal Citations in a Citation Style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
Style: Technical, with specific language related to the discipline.
Contains:
Check out Anatomy of a Scholarly Article for more information.
Examples: