Running head: AUTHORITATIVE VS. NON-AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES Authoritative Versus Non-Authoritative Sources Name Institution Date of submission 1 AUTHORITATIVE VS. NON-AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES 2 Introduction to Middle East Politics My major is in Middle East politics. The study of politics of a certain political space includes the in-depth study of a government, analyzing the historical, current and future activities of the space and forecasting some behaviors common with space. The study of the Middle East politics can be generalized into the three subsections as evident from the definition of the study field: governments, political space, and political behaviors. The study of such systems that interlock the social cultures and define certain governments or societies is mandatory. The importance of pursuing studies in this field is very much connected to the growth of systems and governments given that modern-day economies are dictated by individual country developments, strategies, and political balance. One can claim that they are not interested directly by the governmental and political institutions but the political stability and atmosphere directly affects every single person. This formulates the need to study the systems we have in place, their behaviors and also be able to provide better solutions for future consideration (Pullen, 2015). The Middle East politics is not an exception and hence requires utmost keenness in order to avoid economic and civic strife at any given moment in time. The political field requires one to have the ability to read far and wide concerning different topics, governments, political lives, struggles, societal structures and other matters related to political issues. There are a whole lot of resources and sources that can be used by a student pursuing Middle East politics. The intensive amount of resources available for this kind of field brings about certain standard measures that should be avoided in order to avoid biased resources and inaccurately drawn research. The critical criteria that a source can be used to reference some work in the political world demand a source that is an authoritative one. The main critical factor to consider about the source is the presence of a peer review AUTHORITATIVE VS. NON-AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES 3 recommendation. Through this, biased and corrupt sources of information can be avoided. The document should also come from a primary source or if it happens to be a secondary source, the original source article should be appropriately referenced. This ensures that one does not come across plagiarized or corrupted work. Other publication credentials must also be presented to the source in order to remain valid (Tenopir, 2016). Thematic books and scholarly journals provide the best authoritative sources in the political space as they are archival, corroborated and sanctioned from other sources. Scholarly Peer Reviewed Journal These are some of the best sources to find correctly analyzed information from other scholars in the relevant fields. In political studies, one is required to read different character aspirations, whether good or bad, in order to choose a certain orientation that may seem more beneficial to the student. The Middle East Journal is termed is the oldest peer-reviewed journal that is solely dedicated on matters concerning the Middle East (Middle East Institute, 2016). The journal is readily found online at the Middle East Institute website in a paid electronic format and also a hard copy publication. This source of Middle East politics and the developments is among the best scholarly journals. First and foremost, it mainly concentrates on matters of the Middle East countries rather than diluting the content with other foreign materials. The journal also covers a wide range of topics on matters to do with the economic developments, cultural and ethnic interactions, and the religious diversity. It has also been a renowned source that has withstood the test of time and still remains one of the most referenced scholarly articles concerning Middle East affairs. The sources are hence reliable and very relevant for the study. AUTHORITATIVE VS. NON-AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES 4 Trade publications These are periodical journals, magazines other written materials that cover specific topics aimed at different audiences. Trade publications are an essential component for those studying the Middle East politics in general. One is required to be well conversant with issues throughout their study period and life after that. This means that one is required to be extensive on matters government, politics, economy and other influencing factors. The most referenced trade publication is the ITP Media Group trade publications (ITP Media Group, 2017). They can be found easily online through their website and also buy the publications or in libraries. The ITP Media Group trade publications consist of several publications on different matters that affect the society at large. The articles in these publications are sourced from ongoing affairs from the internal scenes and are very informative. The publications are important referencing sources as they carry detail about the affairs around the jurisdictions and meet the criteria for authoritative sources very well. The archival nature of these sources is a good referencing point. The trade publications from this company group range from those about economics, politics, and governments. Professional Organization sources These scholarly sources also serve an integral part into referencing work during the study period of Middle East politics. The Middle East Studies Association is one of the best sources one can find online to reference political work. The association brings together professionals from different scholarly backgrounds and come up with articles relevant to the society (Middle East Studies Association, 2015). The articles are carefully researched and brought together to include minds from different scholars who are familiar with the field. AUTHORITATIVE VS. NON-AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES 5 Non-authoritative magazines The Middle East politics study can allow some non-scholarly articles to be used once in a while. The Middle East Magazine Online is one such example of the non-authoritative sources of political studies. This source can come in handy to reference recent political advancements and other developments that have not yet undergone intense scrutiny from scholars (Middle East Magazine Online, 2017). The articles in the magazine are so detailed and seem to have undergone scholar scrutiny and termed as peer-reviewed articles but fail the scrutiny tests as outlined before. The articles cannot be termed as archival as they are open to change very easily in case of any contradicting point. Conclusion From the discussions on the following the different available sources, one is left to straightforwardly conclude that scholarly authoritative sources are an essentiality in the study of Middle East politics. Facts and figures have to be mentioned to the latter and with minimal contradiction if any. The criteria set forward have to be followed carefully in order to be able to distinguish peer-reviewed sources and separate them from other non-authoritative sources. The authoritative sources the test of being archival, corroborative and sanctioned from other similar sources. The scholarly reviewed articles hence should be more considered in order to avoid the bias and corrupt sources. Non reviewed sources can be misguiding and not teaching the true elements as required of a Middle East politics student. AUTHORITATIVE VS. NON-AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES 6 References (2016). Retrieved from Middle East Institute: http://www.mei.edu/middle-east-journal (2017). Retrieved from ITP Media Group: https://www.itp.com/itp-business.php (2015). Retrieved from Middle East Studies Association: http://mesana.org/about/index.html (2017). Retrieved from Middle East Magazine Online: http://www.themiddleeastmagazine.com/wp-mideastmag-live/2015/08/the-changingdynamics-of-mideast-politics/ Pullen, A., & Rhodes, C. (Eds.). (2015). The Routledge companion to ethics, politics and organizations. Routledge. Tenopir, C., Levine, K., Allard, S., Christian, L., Volentine, R., Boehm, R. & Watkinson, A. (2016). Trustworthiness and authority of scholarly information in a digital age: Results of an international questionnaire. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 67(10), 2344-2361. what about peer review, editors and journal impact factor? provide more specific details on each source Source one: Middle East Scholarly Journal Is found at Middle East Institute website in a paid electronic format and also a hard copy publication. Extra information’s to add please cite properly: • First one published was in 1947 • up-to-date in the field of Middle Eastern studies. Full-length reviews, as well as annotations of recent publications, permit the serious reader to keep abreast of current literature on the area (Middle East). CITE • Subscriptions prices ranges from $50 for individual subscribers and up to $300 for institutions, there’s an additional $30 shipping fee for non-U.S. subscribers. • For more than 60 years the DC area has been offering affordable classes for all students and professionals. They have native Arabic instructors for those who wish to learn Arabic and the classes are held at Dupont Circle 1319 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tuition cost for a session is $490. This includes many languages from Arabic, ARABIC - PERSIAN - TURKISH - KURDISH - URDU - PASHTO - DARI • Its founders, scholar George Camp Keiser and former U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter, laid out a simple mandate: “to increase knowledge of the Middle East among the citizens of the United States and to promote a better understanding between the people of these two areas.” • It has earned the reputation of being unbiased source which assists many ME politic students to find and gain undistorted information’s and knowledge about the Middle East. • The Middle East Journal includes articles written by renowned scholars, foreign policy analysts and area experts; a chronology maintained continuously since 1947, organized by subject and country; and book reviews that are among the most respected, comprehensive, and up-to-date in the field of Middle Eastern studies. • The Oman Library at the Middle East Institute is known to have the largest English language collection of literature on the Middle East in Washington, D.C, outside of the Library of Congress. It is estimated to house approximately 23,000 books and periodicals, all devoted to the region. Our collection holds materials in regional languages including Arabic, Hebrew, French,Turkish and Farsi. Works in the library include items addressing, among other topics, various aspects of history, culture, politics, literature, and languages of the Middle East, Islamic lands, and relevant regions • They also have a fun entertaining Arts and culture programs that connects the Washington community with the heritage and culture of the ME traditions. Source 2: Trade Publications Is found in ITP Media Group trade publications (ITP Media Group, 2017). They can be found easily online through their website and also buy the publications or in libraries. Include more background information, Scholars qualifications, Etc. Membership requirements, what can someone benefit from this site ITP. Source 3: Professional Organization The Middle East Studies Association is one of the best sources one can find online to reference political work. Why is it the best? Talk about the peer reviews, etc. When and where was this site founded add more background information! Thanks. What makes this source a scholarly source? Peer review, up to date publications, etc? Who is the owner? What are the qualifications need it to become a member? What are the qualifications of the scholars to be writing about the Middle East politics? What degrees they hold? PHD etc? Source 4: Non authorities source The Middle East Magazine Online Add more background information about the site, why it’s not a credible source, etc. Each source is thoroughly reviewed Source 1 6 /10 Source 2 3 /10 Source 3 4 /10 Source 4 4 /10 17 /40 Sources are logically organized 10 /10 Criteria for selecting sources are well explained 10 /10 Introduction and conclusion are well written 7 /10 Thesis statement is clearly worded 9 /10 Essay defends thesis 6 /10 Paragraphs are well developed and focused 4 /5 Writer complies with rules of Standard Written English/ APA guidelines 3 /5 Total 66 /100 what about peer review, editors and journal impact factor? provide more specific details on each source Engh 302 H_F17 Professor Saad Authoritative vs Non-Authoritative Sources in Your Field First draft: Oct. 16th, 2017(Bring an electronic copy with a minimum of 800 words for peer review. Submit an electronic copy before class on Bb.) Final draft: Oct. 23rd , 2017. Submit an electronic copy on Bb. Assignment: Write a 1000-1200 word report identifying several authoritative sources in your field as well as one non-authoritative source. The purpose of the assignment is that you become aware of the criteria that qualify a source and make it a reputable one and be able to discern between authoritative and non-authoritative sources. This will be your guide as you select sources for your researched argument for this course, and as you choose respected sources for future research papers in other courses. Your audience are freshmen who have chosen the same academic field and will start their major-specific courses next semester. Choose one leading source in three of the following four categories: scholarly journal, trade publication, organization ( professional association, government agency, or standardsetting/credentialing organization), and electronic source or database as well as one nonauthoritative source. For each source, describe it and justify your choice. To prove the credibility of any source, you need to use other external sources that provide evidence and validates it. This means you cannot use the website of a trade publication, for example, to prove that it is a leading source in the field. Document all sources using APA citation guidelines. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER 1. Your GMU Resources What library resources are available? Who is your liaison librarian? Does your major have an info guide? Are there discipline specific databases the library has access to? Which professors or professionals in your field reside on campus? What about staff members who have practice in your field? The potential resources at Mason are boundless. 2. Databases, Scholarly Journals, Trade Publications Having navigated the GMU library website, what are some core databases arranged by subject librarians that have a particular significance in your field? Read the description of each database to determine which is more reputable. Which scholarly journals are most important in your field? Who is the editor(s) in chief? What are his/her credentials? How long has it been around? Is it peer reviewed? Is it connected with an organization or institution? What are its journal impact factors? Which databases have the top journal(s) indexed? What are the circulation statistics for trade publications? You may need to search the internet to find answers to some of those questions. 3. Professional Organization A professional organization can be any group, society, government, agency, or other organization that offers benefits and membership to practitioners in your field. Find a major professional organization in your field, and explore: what are their membership requirements and dues? Does the organization have job banks or offer any scholarships? Does it release any publications, or keep members in contact with one another through newsletters, forums, blogs, or member listservs of any kind? Does the organization host any conferences to disseminate new information? Does it offer any sort of ethical standards or behavioral expectations (like a code of conduct or licensure)? Tips for writing the essay: 1. Format your assignment as a report that uses headings. Start your report with an introduction that describes your field, and provides a brief overview of its importance to society, education or politics. Then, explain to the reader the criteria used in the selection of the most authoritative sources. Your introduction should also contain a thesis statement. Your thesis must have a claim that states which source or source category is the most authoritative and a reason that states why this is so. 2. For the body of the report, include four sections with headings that indicate the source type, such as "Scholarly Journal" or "Professional Organization." For each category, describe the source as well as explain to the readers how to find it. Then explain the reasons why this source is the most reputable or the least, in case of the non-authoritative source. Make sure to cite the source of your evidence using APA style documentation. 3. Provide a conclusion where you give sound advice to your audience based on your investigation as well as discuss which sources you will use in your researched argument and which you will avoid. Learning Objectives Upon completion of the essay, you should be able to • • • • • • • • • Identify the major periodicals (scholarly journal and trade publication/conference) in your field of study Identify the important professional organizations in your field of study and future profession Identify the most credible sources in your field of study and future profession Explain the criteria by which scholars and professionals in your field determine credibility Understand why writers use and cite sources Know how to write a thesis for an academic essay Know how to locate, evaluate, cite, and integrate secondary sources into your writing Know how to use the university library catalog Know how to use the university databases Criteria for Evaluation You will be graded on the following content areas and writing skills: Content • • • • • Effort expended to discover a variety of resources Ability to provide a thorough review of these sources Ability to organize these resources in a logical pattern Ability to explain the criteria for determining credibility of sources in your field Ability to synthesize key ideas about the scholarship in your field Writing Skills • • • • • • • Essay contains an engaging introduction and clearly worded thesis Essay defends the thesis Writer complies with the rules of Standard Written English Paragraphs are well-developed and tightly focused Writer uses a variety of sentence structures and lengths Writer uses a variety of techniques to convey a personal style and voice. Essay has a satisfying conclusion Running head: AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH Searching for Credibility: Identifying Authoritative Sources for Psychological Research Tara Amor English 302 Professor Randa Saad 10/22/2017 1 AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2 Introduction to Psychology Psychologists study both normal and abnormal functioning, and treat patients with mental and emotional problems (American Psychological Association, 2017). Psychology is a varied field, psychologists engage in applied research, consult with organizations, diagnose and treat people, and teach future psychologists (APA, 2017). There are many sub fields of psychology including Cognitive, Clinical, Developmental, and Forensic, reflecting the immense complexity of human thought and behavior. Psychologists contribute on an individual level, helping people gain insight into the causes of behaviors. Psychological research benefits society as well, reducing the economic burden of disease as people learn how to make choices that improve their health and well-being. Psychology majors will find it difficult to choose among the countless sources of information available. An ability to distinguish between authoritative and non-authoritative sources is the key to successful research. One useful criteria to judge the credibility of a source is to determine whether the publication has been peer-reviewed. Peer-review is the highest standard by which the credibility of a source is judged throughout the sciences. Knowing that other academics have read the article critically and then either suggested that it be accepted, rejected or-most frequently-revised and improved before it is published allows us to rely on the credibility of the information within (Gannon, 2001). Other criteria such as whether the information comes from a primary or secondary source, the academic credentials of the writer, and how often the work has been cited should also be considered. Using these criteria we can determine that the scholarly journal Psychological Bulletin is currently a leading authoritative source in the field. This is due to the combination of a strict peer-review standard, excellent AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 3 publisher credentials, articles reporting original research, and a high Journal Impact Factor. Credible Sources Scholarly Journal An important, frequently published, and peer-reviewed journal in psychology is the Psychological Bulletin (Journal Citation Reports, 2017). GMU students may access the Psychological Bulletin through GMU University Libraries by using the PsycINFO database. The journal publishes evaluative and integrative research reviews and interpretations of issues in scientific psychology. Integrative reviews or research syntheses focus on empirical studies and seek to summarize past research by drawing overall conclusions from many separate investigations that address related or identical hypothesis (APA, 2017). Essentially this journal favors research papers that analyze the strengths and weaknesses of past research and propose new directions for future research so that new information can be revealed. This accurate, credible approach to publication are reflected by a very high Journal Impact Factor of 16.793 (JCR, 2017). The Impact Factor of a journal is calculated by dividing the number of current year citations to the source items published in that journal during the previous two years (Clarivate, 2017). This is helpful because citation frequency indicates how many other academics found the information valuable and accurate enough to cite in their own work. This method also helps to eliminate some of the bias of such counts which favor large journals over small ones, or frequently issued journals over less frequently issued ones, and of older journals over newer ones (Clarivate, 2017). AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 4 Professional Organization The American Psychological Association is the largest professional organization of psychologists in the United States. GMU students may access their resources directly through the association website at http://www.apa.org/index.aspx. The PsycINFO database also indexes many of the association published journals. The association was founded in 1892 at Clark University in Massachusetts with an original membership of 30, as of 2017 there are 117,500 members. Their stated goals include expanding psychology's role in advancing health and increasing recognition of psychology as a science. To be considered a full APA member one must be a doctoral-level psychologist, holding a PhD, PsyD or EdD in psychology from an accredited institution. APA also allows affiliate and associate members, allowing psychology students, teachers, and mental health professionals (APA, 2017). The APA is lead by a 12 member board of directors who all hold doctoral-level degrees in psychology. The current Association President as of 2017, Antonio E. Puente, holds a PhD in neuropsychology. These requirements make the APA governing body and membership highly qualified, thereby contributing to the academic credibility of the association. The consistent application of peer-review standards to journals published by the APA further contribute to this credibility. The APA publishes over 70 journals and an average of 75 books per year, including the definitive Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association which is the official guide to APA style (APA, 2017). The APA has over 900 books in print, tailored to meet the needs of scholars, clinicians, researchers, and students. The combination of a large, qualified, and professional membership and publication of so many peer-reviewed journals makes the APA a valuable and authoritative resource. AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 5 Database GMU University Libraries provides access to the PsycINFO database as one of it's core resources. A 50 year old project, PsycINFO has grown to become the most trusted and comprehensive library of psychological science in the world (APA, 2017). A professionally indexed repository of 4,381,251 records allows students to search peer-reviewed journals, books, articles, and editorials. 2500 journals are covered representing 22 major and 135 subcategories. PsycINFO is increasingly being used by clinicians as well as academics due to it indexing a larger proportion (73%) of leading psychiatry journals, compared to the leading clinical database MEDLINE. Comparisons of database yields have shown that PsycINFO contributes studies on psychological topics not found in other databases (Eady, Wilczynski, & Haynes, 2008). This makes PsycINFO an invaluable resource for students who wish to access the largest possible source of credible journal articles. Additionally most records indexed after 1995 include abstracts and those indexed after 2001 include cited references, making this database quite easy to use (APA, 2017). Non-Authoritative Source Magazine Psychology Today is the largest popular psychological publication in America. Their website, https://www.psychologytoday.com/ records over 30 million visits per month. Many people use the provided professional directories to seek help with their mental health. The print magazine has 250,000 paid subscribers per issue (Psychology Today, 2017). While this for-profit AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 6 publication is popular among people with an interest in psychology, it cannot be considered a credible source for research. The most critical issue is that none of the published articles are peer-reviewed or includes cites or references. Without the credibility bestowed through a peerreview process the quality and insight of the articles becomes irrelevant for purposes of research. This makes the magazine a possible candidate as a secondary source, but inappropriate as a primary source for research. A primary source is one that provides firsthand evidence, such as results of experiments or statistical data. A secondary source simply summarizes or interprets a primary source. When it comes to academic research it's important to back up claims with evidence to ensure your paper will stand up to peer review (Lee, 2013). This means that although the student may find reference to an interesting study in Psychology Today or another secondary source such as Wikipedia, they will need to find and read the primary source to verify the accuracy of the information. Conclusion A psychology student embarking on a research project would do well to make use of any or all of the authoritative sources provided here. Keeping the gold standard of peer-review firmly in mind and avoiding less reputable sources of information, the challenge then becomes how to successfully navigate the overwhelming quantity of information available. An organized and mindful approach that utilizes the different types of source to best advantage is the best way to avoid becoming overwhelmed. A professional organization like the American Psychological Association can be a good way to gain insight into the state of research in a specific area of AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 7 interest. Databases like PsycINFO can aid in the search for more specific information, and finally peer-reviewed journals like the Psychological Bulletin should be used as a primary source. Nonauthoritative, commercial publications such as Psychology Today should be avoided as primary sources. AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH References American Psychological Association (2017). About APA. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/index.aspx American Psychological Association (2017). Psychological Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/bul/index.aspx?tab=1 Eady, A. M., Wilczynski, N. L., & Haynes, R. B. (2008). PsycINFO search strategies identified methodologically sound therapy studies and review articles for use by clinicians and researchers. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2254323/ Gannon, F. (2001, Sep 15). The essential role of peer review. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1084042/ Garfield, E. (2004, Jun 20). The clarivate analytics impact factor. Retrieved from https://clarivate.com/essays/impact-factor/ InCites Journal Citation Reports. (2017). Journals by rank. Retrieved from https://jcr-incitesthomsonreuters-com.mutex.gmu.edu/JCRJournalHomeAction.action? pg=JRNLHOME&categoryName=PSYCHOLOGY%2 %20MULTIDISCIPLINARY&categories=VJ# Lee, C. (2013, Jan 10). Alligators and academia: the importance of primary and secondary sources. Retrieved from http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2013/01/alligators-andacademia.html 8 AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 9
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