BCOR 2120: Accounting Information for Decision Making

The primary purpose of scholarly information is to disseminate research and academic discussion among scholars in a discipline.

Scholarly sources present original research on topics related to business written by professors, researchers, or professionals.

Trade sources are about news, trends, best practices, and products for a specific industry written by professionals or experts in that field.

Intended Audience:

Scholars, researchers, students

Intended Audience:

General public (non-specialist), those with an interest on the specific topic

Intended Audience:

Professionals in the industry, professional organization members

Scholarly information:

• Authority is clear with credentials listed
• Provides citations to support research 
• Usually describes methodology and supplies data to support research
• Usually evaluated by experts before publication (i.e., peer review process)

Popular information:  

• Authority is usually clear; credentials may be listed
• May contain citations or links to other sources
• Provides timely coverage of popular topics and current events 
• Usually undergoes an editorial process (reporter to editor to copy editor)

Trade information:           

• Authority is usually clear; credentials may be listed  
• May contain citations or links to other industry sources
• Provides timely coverage of industry news and trends                                  

Scholarly information:

• Has articles that often use specialized terminology that can be difficult for non-specialists to read
• Is expensive and may not be readily available
• May not be as useful for current events due to long research process

Popular information:

• Has editors who may know little about the topic
• Does not always cite sources
• Publishes to make a profit; the line between informing and selling may be blurred                   

Trade information:

• Is not peer-reviewed, though author is usually a professional in the field
• Does not always cite sources
• Uses specialized terminology of the field
• Has evidence drawn from personal experience or common knowledge but NOT rigorous research