IB World

When you research your Extended Essay, you’ll find a mix of popular, scholarly, and sometimes trade sources.
Each has a different purpose and audience — the key is knowing when to use which.

Popular sources have merit but when doing in depth scholarly research, scholarly sources are usually preferred. If and how much of each is dependent upon the context and demands of the research assignment.

• Use popular articles for general info, current events, or quick overviews. They are easy to read and made for a broad audience.
• Use scholarly articles for deep research or academic work. They are written by experts, reviewed by peers, and include detailed methods and citations.