Attributes of a scholarly source
- credentialed author
- intended for a specialist audience
- non-profit publication (not supported by ad revenue), usually an academic journal
- peer-reviewed
- extensive bibliography
- makes a research-supported argument that is part of a conversation
Attributes of a "popular" source
- author may not be a credentialed "expert"
- intended for a wide, general audience
- publication may have a bias (political bias, or supported by ad revenue)
- may not have a bibliography, or cite any sources
- doesn't necessarily have a unique argument (news, factual recounting of information) or has an argument unsupported by research ("op-eds," opinion pieces)