Bancroft LibGuides: Senior Thesis : Reference and Scholarly Sources

Reference Sources-Databases

Reference sources are broader, more general resources. They are often encyclopedias and provide good background information, particularly when choosing a topic.

Credo Source Reference This link opens in a new window
Broad-based general reference materials billed as the resource for "Background Information to Start Your Research".
Britannica - High School Edition This link opens in a new window
Reference articles from one of the oldest and most trusted reference sources in the world.

Scholarly Articles: What are they?

Scholarly articles are written by researchers or experts in a field in order to share the results of their original research or analysis with other researchers and students. These articles often go through a process known as peer review where the article is reviewed by a group of experts in the field.

The following characteristics can help you determine if the article you’re looking at is scholarly:

Author(s) name included
- Scholarly articles are written by experts or researchers, so make sure that the author’s name, along with their institution and scholarly credentials, are included.
Technical or specialized language
- Scholarly articles will often use technical or highly specialized language.
Written for professionals
- Scholarly articles are published in academic journals. Academic journals have titles that suggest they are written for professionals in a particular field of study and not for the general public.
Charts, graphs, and diagrams
- Scholarly articles communicate research results. They will often include charts, graphs, or diagrams.
Long ( 5 or more pages)
- Scholarly articles tend to be long. They are usually five or more pages.
Bibliography included
- Scholarly articles will always include references to the sources cited or a bibliography.

Library Catalog

Looking for a specific book? Or books on a specific topic? Check the Bancroft Library Catalog

As well as our eBook collection:

https://soraapp.com/library/masslibma

A-Z Database List

Scholarly Articles

JSTOR This link opens in a new window
JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources. JSTOR provides access to more than 12 million academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in 75 disciplines.
Academic OneFile (Gale) This link opens in a new window
Academic OneFile, provides millions of articles from over 9,000 scholarly journals and other authoritative sources—including thousands of podcasts and transcripts from NPR and CNN as well as videos from BBC Worldwide Learning.
Issues - Understanding Controversy and Society This link opens in a new window
This database helps students develop an in-depth understanding of how society shapes and is shaped by controversy, providing authoritative historical context, expert perspectives, and carefully selected primary and secondary sources on today's most important issues.
Opposing Viewpoints (Gale In Context) This link opens in a new window
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints is the premier online resource covering today's hottest social issues, from capital punishment to immigration to marijuana. This cross-curricular resource supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. Informed, differing views help learners develop critical-thinking skills and draw their own conclusions.