A process established by researchers and scholars to review written works (e.g., articles, book chapters, books, etc.) of their peers prior to being approved for publication. The process is typically anonymous, meaning the reviewer does not know who author is and the author does not know who reviewed their work. This is often referred to as a blind peer-review. A non-favorable review often means the work will not be accepted for publication.

Has been approved by a panel of experts in the same field of study before it is accepted for publication. Also could be called a refereed or scholarly source.

Using or closely imitating another person’s ideas, text, or work and presenting it as your own without proper acknowledgement of the original source.

A publication containing articles on a variety of topics, written by various authors in a non-scholarly or general interest style. Most magazines are heavily illustrated, contain advertising, and are printed on glossy paper. The articles are usually short (less than five pages long), frequently unsigned, and tend not to include a bibliography or list of references.

Examples: Psychology Today. Time, Newsweek, Popular Mechanic

Items or original works that are a firsthand record of a topic, historical events, practices, conditions, or original research. They have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation.

An evaluation criteria used to determine the reason why the information exists.