LibGuides: InfoSkills for Economics and Management: Credible sources: Examples

Examples of credible sources

We’ve covered a range of source types, examining them through two key aspects: the intended audience and the publishing method. In the matrix below, these two aspects are mapped out: one axis represents the intended audience, while the other distinguishes between traditionally published journals and books and non-traditionally published sources.

The resulting matrix outlines nine distinct source type categories, each filled with examples of credible sources and enriched with useful information relevant to that category..

	Popular	Professional	Scholarly
Traditionally published: Periodicals	➊ Newspapers Useful for current national and international news—focus on reporting, not opinion pieces. Articles often lack depth and background. Ex.: de Volkskrant; The Guardian, The Times, The New York Times. Magazines While not typically cited in academic work, magazine articles can be valuable—especially for beginners, as they don’t assume prior knowledge. Ex.: New Scientist, The Economist.	➋ Professional journals focus on new developments within a specific profession or industry. They often include short reports on recent research, practical insights, case studies, interviews with experts, and feature articles on current trends, tools, or challenges relevant to professionals in the field. Their goal is to inform, educate, and support those actively working in the industry. Ex.: Consumer Marketing, Adweek., Law Practice Magazine .	➌ Scholarly journals In most disciplines, including economics and the social sciences, scholarly journal articles are regarded as the most valuable type of academic source. They typically present current research in a given field. However, non-traditionally published sources—such as conference papers, research reports, and working papers—may offer even more up-to-date information. Ex.: Journal of Social Economics, Sex Roles, Journal of Religious History.
Traditionally published: Books	➍ Books Like popular magazines, popular books can be helpful when you’re new to a subject. Many popular books are written by journalists, experts, or practitioners who have in-depth knowledge of their field. Ex.: 'This is your brain on music: The science of a human obsession'.	❺ Professional books offer reliable, in-depth information, including best practices—documented strategies and tactics used by leading organizations and companies. Be sure to select recent publications, as the information in professional books can become outdated quickly. Ex.: 'Mental health in the workplace: Strategies and tools to optimize outcomes'.	❻ Scholarly books are highly useful for research because they provide in-depth, well-researched coverage of a topic. They often synthesize a wide range of studies, theories, and debates, making them valuable for understanding the broader context of a subject. In the Humanities and theology, books often serve as primary scholarly source. Ex.: 'Emotions in late modernity'.
Non-traditionally published (grey literature)	❼ While typically not used in academic papers, these sources can be useful. They don't assume prior knowledge of a subject area - for this reason, they are often very helpful to read if you don't know a lot about your subject yet. Here are a few examples: News sites Helpful as background reading to understand a topic and for referencing media coverage of an event. Ex.:bbc.com, The Huffington Post. Factsheets Short documents that provide facts and key points about a topic in a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand way. Ex.: a factsheet on measures against tax avoidance and tax evasion (from the Dutch government's website). Reports Created by governments, (nonprofit) organizations, corporations, or think tanks to address specific topics or issues. Ex.: World Alzheimer Report 2025. Podcasts Ex.: 'Artificial Intelligence – no longer a thing of science fiction'. Social media Facebook, X, Bluesky, etc. The value of social media content lies in how quickly information is shared. However, it’s essential to verify that information using reputable sources. Wikipedia Generally not accepted as a reliable source due to limited quality control. It can be useful for gaining a broad overview of a topic, but you should not cite it in your paper or thesis.	❽ Sources from this category can be just as useful as their formal counterparts. Here are a few examples: Profession-specific websites focus on a particular trade or profession. To ensure you access high-quality information, it’s best to choose websites from professional associations—organizations that represent the interests of specific fields. Ex.: American Accounting Association. Professional/trade blogs provide information about the latest developments within a profession or trade. Ex.: MarketingProfs. Professional/trade podcasts Ex.: 'The future starts now', available on the Forrester website. Annual reports Comprehensive reports on a company's or organization's activities throughout the preceding year. Ex.: Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2024. Industry/market reports Industry and market reports provide insights into the competitive landscape, emerging trends, key competitors, and the overall size of the industry or market. Ex.: 'UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2025 '. Industry blogs These blogs are great for staying updated on trends and gaining practical insights from industry professionals. Ex.: The Financial Brand, covering marketing, strategy, and digital transformation in banking and financial services.	➒ While these sources typically aren’t subject to strict quality control, they can still be valuable. Here are a few examples: Working papers are preliminary versions of scholarly journal articles, typically shared on specialized websites to gather feedback from other researchers before formal publication. Ex.: Are You Okay? Effects of a National Peer-Support Campaign on Mental Health. Research reports Documents that describe a research study from start to finish. A report may also be a precursor of research that is later published in a scholarly journal. Ex.: From Texts to Shields: Convergence of Large Language Models and Cybersecurity. Conference papers Conference papers are scholarly works presented at academic conferences, often showcasing the latest research and developments in a field. While many are unpublished, some are later formally published in journals or edited books (proceedings). Ex.: conference paper available from the EMES website. Academic blogs can be helpful for research by offering simplified explanations, current trends, and new ideas. Ex.: ScienceBlog: Silent danger: researchers tackle chemicals that threaten health and fertility. Academic podcasts Ex.: 'Laura Bernardi on mixed methods and research questions'.

Popular

Professional

Scholarly

Traditionally published:
Periodicals

➊
Newspapers
Useful for current national and international news—focus on reporting, not opinion pieces. Articles often lack depth and background.
Ex.: de Volkskrant; The Guardian, The Times, The New York Times.
Magazines
While not typically cited in academic work, magazine articles can be valuable—especially for beginners, as they don’t assume prior knowledge.
Ex.: New Scientist, The Economist.

➋
Professional journals
focus on new developments within a specific profession or industry. They often include short reports on recent research, practical insights, case studies, interviews with experts, and feature articles on current trends, tools, or challenges relevant to professionals in the field. Their goal is to inform, educate, and support those actively working in the industry.
Ex.: Consumer Marketing, Adweek., Law Practice Magazine .

➌
Scholarly journals
In most disciplines, including economics and the social sciences, scholarly journal articles are regarded as the most valuable type of academic source. They typically present current research in a given field. However, non-traditionally published sources—such as conference papers, research reports, and working papers—may offer even more up-to-date information.
Ex.: Journal of Social Economics, Sex Roles, Journal of Religious History.

Traditionally published:
Books

➍

Books
Like popular magazines, popular books can be helpful when you’re new to a subject. Many popular books are written by journalists, experts, or practitioners who have in-depth knowledge of their field.
Ex.: 'This is your brain on music: The science of a human obsession'.

❺

Professional books
offer reliable, in-depth information, including best practices—documented strategies and tactics used by leading organizations and companies. Be sure to select recent publications, as the information in professional books can become outdated quickly.
Ex.: 'Mental health in the workplace: Strategies and tools to optimize outcomes'.

❻
Scholarly books
are highly useful for research because they provide in-depth, well-researched coverage of a topic. They often synthesize a wide range of studies, theories, and debates, making them valuable for understanding the broader context of a subject. In the Humanities and theology, books often serve as primary scholarly source.
Ex.: 'Emotions in late modernity'.

Non-traditionally published (grey literature)

❼
While typically not used in academic papers, these sources can be useful. They don't assume prior knowledge of a subject area - for this reason, they are often very helpful to read if you don't know a lot about your subject yet. Here are a few examples:

News sites
Helpful as background reading to understand a topic and for referencing media coverage of an event. Ex.:bbc.com, The Huffington Post.
Factsheets
Short documents that provide facts and key points about a topic in a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand way.
Ex.: a factsheet on measures against tax avoidance and tax evasion (from the Dutch government's website).
Reports
Created by governments, (nonprofit) organizations, corporations, or think tanks to address specific topics or issues.
Ex.: World Alzheimer Report 2025.
Podcasts
Ex.: 'Artificial Intelligence – no longer a thing of science fiction'.
Social media
Facebook, X, Bluesky, etc. The value of social media content lies in how quickly information is shared. However, it’s essential to verify that information using reputable sources.
Wikipedia
Generally not accepted as a reliable source due to limited quality control. It can be useful for gaining a broad overview of a topic, but you should not cite it in your paper or thesis.

❽
Sources from this category can be just as useful as their formal counterparts.
Here are a few examples:

Profession-specific websites
focus on a particular trade or profession. To ensure you access high-quality information, it’s best to choose websites from professional associations—organizations that represent the interests of specific fields.
Ex.: American Accounting Association.
Professional/trade blogs
provide information about the latest developments within a profession or trade.
Ex.: MarketingProfs.
Professional/trade podcasts
Ex.: 'The future starts now', available on the Forrester website.
Annual reports
Comprehensive reports on a company's or organization's activities throughout the preceding year.
Ex.: Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2024.
Industry/market reports
Industry and market reports provide insights into the competitive landscape, emerging trends, key competitors, and the overall size of the industry or market.
Ex.: 'UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2025 '.
Industry blogs
These blogs are great for staying updated on trends and gaining practical insights from industry professionals.
Ex.: The Financial Brand, covering marketing, strategy, and digital transformation in banking and financial services.

➒

While these sources typically aren’t subject to strict quality control, they can still be valuable.
Here are a few examples:

Working papers
are preliminary versions of scholarly journal articles, typically shared on specialized websites to gather feedback from other researchers before formal publication.
Ex.: Are You Okay? Effects of a National Peer-Support Campaign on Mental Health.
Research reports
Documents that describe a research study from start to finish. A report may also be a precursor of research that is later published in a scholarly journal.
Ex.: From Texts to Shields: Convergence of Large Language Models and Cybersecurity.
Conference papers
Conference papers are scholarly works presented at academic conferences, often showcasing the latest research and developments in a field. While many are unpublished, some are later formally published in journals or edited books (proceedings).
Ex.: conference paper available from the EMES website.
Academic blogs
can be helpful for research by offering simplified explanations, current trends, and new ideas.
Ex.: ScienceBlog: Silent danger: researchers tackle chemicals that threaten health and fertility.
Academic podcasts
Ex.: 'Laura Bernardi on mixed methods and research questions'.