Peer-reviewed sources

Popular Science Publications

Blogs, Chain E-Mails, Social Networking, Video Sites

Newspapers, News Websites, Magazines

Scientific Source Quality Pyramid Not all sources of scientific information are the same. This pyramid shows a few sources ranging from the highest quality on the top, to the lowest quality on the bottom. The back of this sheet has more information on each level of the pyramid.

Scientific Source Quality Pyramid Not all sources of scientific information are the same. This pyramid shows a few sources ranging from the highest quality on the top, to the lowest quality on the bottom. The back of this sheet has more information on each level of the pyramid.

Blogs and Wiki sites These sources are written by a wide variety of authors, and can range from high quality primary sources to low quality secondary sources.

Blogs and Wiki sites These sources are written by a wide variety of authors, and can range from high quality primary sources to low quality secondary sources.

Workshop in Ecosystem EcologyWorkshop in Ecosystem Ecology Insights into Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future Insights into Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future

Peer-Reviewed SourcesArticles from these sources are reviewed by other scientists in the

field. Articles are typically published in scientific journals that have strict requirements for article quality. Peer-reviewed articles cite the sources of their information and are written in an objective and professional style. These articles are usually primary sources that report original research findings.

Popular Science MagazinesThese magazines have science writers on their staff. Many of the

articles in these magazines are based on research presented in peer-reviewed journals. Articles in these magazines may not cite all of their sources, but frequently tell you where information came from. Popular science articles are usually written in a professional manner and are objective or narrative.

Newspapers, News Websites, News MagazinesMany of these sources report on general events as well as science

news. Articles published in these sources are typically based on information from a news wire service (such as the Associated Press) and not from a peer-reviewed source. These articles do not typically cite their sources, but may mention where some information was obtained. The writing style of these sources is typically professional and usually narrative, telling a story that would interest readers.

Chain E-Mails, Social Networking, Video SitesThese sources are typically an individual’s personal report on a news

article, scientific finding, or other event. The facts from these sources are usually not checked for accuracy or consistency by anyone but the author. These sources are typically written or presented in an informal style and can very often be biased based on the authors views. Sometimes these sources can have useful scientific information, but it is very difficult to tell where the information came from.