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HASS 463 -- History of Epidemics

This guide contains links and resource for students in Dr. Buhrer's History of Medicine and History of Epidemics courses

Why Articles?

The articles found in many scholarly journals go through a "peer-review" process. In other words, the articles are checked by academics and other experts. The information is therefore reliable.  As well as containing scholarly information, journal articles can include reports and/or reviews of current research and topic-specific information.

Use scholarly journals when you need original research on a topic; articles and essays written by scholars or subject experts; factual documented information to reinforce a position; or references lists that point you to other relevant research. Scholarly journals take less time to publish than books, but the peer-review process can be lengthy. 

Popular articles found in magazines are often written by journalist or professional writers for a general audience.  They tend to be shorter than scholarly journal articles and rarely give full citations for sources.  Popular articles from magazines are helpful if you want background on a topic that is new to you or very current information

Core Database Collections

Scholarly, Professional, Popular?

Evaluating Sources

What kind of information do you need?  If you are writing for a class assignment, you may be required to use peer-reviewed ("refereed") or scholarly sources.  In any case, you should always look for sources that are authoritative.  For more detailed help with evaluating your sources, see our Evaluating Information Guide.  

Scholarly Checklist--Look for:

  • Authors listed, with credentials
  • Cited references and data, observations, or statistics to support conclusions
  • Reviewed by peers or experts in the subject
  • Purpose is to inform or impart knowledge, not to sell, persuade, entertain
  • Appears impartial--few or no advertisements, no emotional language, unbiased

Authoritative--A source can have authority even if it isn't scholarly.

  • Author and/or publisher is an expert on the subject
  • Author's affiliations and contact information are available

Other Criteria-- these are not definitive, but worthy of consideration:

  • Do you see errors in spelling, grammar, data?
  • Is the publication in turn cited by other credible works published later?
  • How current is the information (no date? be suspicious)?
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