How do I know if a source is reliable?
Take a close look at the...
Author
Who is the author? Are they qualified to speak about this subject? Are they an expert in this field?
Article
Is there a works cited? What is the purpose of the article?
Publisher
Is the publisher a reputable organization like a university? Are there requirements for authors to publish?
Scholarly/Peer Reviewed
Journals provide reports of original research; in-depth analysis of issues related to the academic discipline. Articles are written by scholars or researchers in the field and use the most focused sources, get right to the interesting points, and yet have rich background as well. Articles undergo peer review before acceptance for publication to insure research reported is of high quality and validity. Articles are always documented by formal citation of sources.
Examples
Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians
ARQ: Architecture Research Quarterly
Design Journal
Environment & Planning
Journal of Architecture
Journal of Architectural & Planning Research
Journal of Urban Design
Journal of Planning Literature
Places
Town Planning Review
What does a Scholarly/Peer Reviewed article look like?
Trade/Professional
Journals written for those in a profession. They provide industry news, trends & product information, and career news. Articles may be written by experts or paid writers, most are not peer-reviewed. They may contain some references and interviews but not formal citations, usually contain advertisements. Journals may be in a newspaper format.
Examples
The Architectural Review and American Builder's Journal
Architect
Architectural Record
Building
Building Design & Construction
Blueprint
Detail
Interior Design
Innovation
Popular Magazines and Websites
Magazines and websites are written for the general public, to sell products and to entertain or educate the reader. They provide news on current trends, events and popular culture. Articles are usually short, rarely cite any sources, contain many advertisements and written by staff writers They are not peer reviewed.
Examples
Architectural Digest
Casabella
Dwell
House Beautiful
Marg
Old House Journal
Wallpaper
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias provide general information about a subject. They are not the product of academic research, and therefore are not a scholarly source.
Wikipedia, may, however, be a source for other sources. Check the Wikipedia page bibliography., usually located at the bottom of the page.
Examples
Wikipedia
Encyclopedia Brittanica
What does an encyclopedia look like?
* Adapted from Georgia Tech Library's Architecture Guide http://libguides.gatech.edu/c.php?g=54066&p=351349