Here are a few criteria for determining if your source is scholarly:
Author(s) credentials - are they experts working or teaching in this field of study?
Length - is it a few brief paragraphs or a longer, more substantive article?
Language - is it written for other scholars in the field? Do they used specialized or technical language specific to this field of study?
References - is the author(s) citing other scholars in this field of study? Do they have a robust reference list?
Journal or Book Type - If it's a journal article, what kind of journal is the article is published in? Is it a scholarly journal, or even peer reviewed? If it’s a book, is it published by a university press or other well-respected commercial publisher known for publishing scholarly works?
Image Source: Pixabay
Image Source: Pixabay
EMPIRICAL RESEARCH EXERCISE - Identifying Empirical Research
Directions: Skim through the following articles* and determine if they are empirical research articles. Be prepared to justify your decision.
Base your decision using the following criteria:
• Structure: Does it have methodology, results, and conclusions?
• Publication: Is it published in a scholarly journal?
• Perspective: Is it about the author(s) own research?
Cook, S., & Fortunato, D. (2022). The Politics of Police Data: State Legislative Capacity and the Transparency of
State and Substate Agencies. American Political Science Review, 1-16. doi:10.1017/S0003055422000624
Haas, P. (2002). Nonprofits in Urban America. Edited. by Richard C. Hula and Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore. Westport,
CT: Quorum Books, 2000. 235p. American Political Science Review, 96(1), 211-212. doi:10.1017/S0003055402314321
Kalla, J., & Broockman, D. (2022). Voter Outreach Campaigns Can Reduce Affective Polarization among Implementing
Political Activists: Evidence from Inside Three Campaigns. American Political Science Review, 116(4), 1516-1522.
doi:10.1017/S0003055422000132
Ting, M. (2021). The Political Economy of Governance Quality. American Political Science Review, 115(2), 667-685.
doi:10.1017/S0003055421000046
*If the article link does not work for you, try using this Citation Search Tool to locate the article.