Hello Social Work 215 students!
This Guide is designed to help with your research for this course. It gathers the resources and services that should help with assignments.
William Adame
Reference & Social Work Librarian
Zahnow Library, SVSU
These books are on the 1st floor of the library in the Reference Collection. They can't be checked out so they should be there when you need them.
They are vital to find historical information on your policy/program
Scholarly sources:
Scholarly sources (also known as academic, peer-reviewed, or refereed) are written by scholars and experts in a particular field/discipline. They keep others,interested in that field/discipline, current on the most recent research, findings, and best practice.
Peer-Reviewed sources:
This source requires the review from a board of colleagues in the author's field/discipline. If accepted, it is published. Not all scholarly sources are peer reviewed.
Scholarly sources are used to establish authority and credibility. They assist you with the quality of your paper and
are expected to be evident when conducting and writing about your research.
These chacteristics can help differentiate scholarly sources from sources that are not scholarly.
Authors:
Are credentials listed...
Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
Is the author affiliated with a reputable institution or scholarly publisher?
Is the author mentioned or cited in another credible source?
Audience
Scholars write for scholars.
The language used will be for those with knowledge of a specific field/discipline
Content
The information will often be reviewed
Can the information be verified in other sources?
Sources will be cited
Conclusions are based on evidence
Currency/Timeliness
The publication date is stated.
Publishers
Who published the information will be clearly noted. Here are some examples...
Academic Publishers:
Oxford University Press
Duke University Press
Scholarly or Professional Organizations:
American Psychological Association
NASW Press
Scholarly Trade Publishers:
Rowman & Littlefield
Routledge
Trade Publishers:
Macmillan
Simon & Schuster
Purpose
The purpose of the information is to educate and add to an existing knowledge base
Authors will make their reasoning clear for the research or information presented.
Biases or conflicts will be noted