You don't have scholarly works without "scholars"--people who are experts in their field and dedicated to study and advancing knowledge of the subject. Typically they have earned an advanced degree (often a PhD) in their field and work for an organization dedicated to education and research, like a university or sometimes a "think tank." It's always a good idea to "Google" your authors to find out what makes them experts. 

Scholars typically publish their research in special "scholarly journals." As young experts in your field, it's important to be exposed to these journals during your studies. Scholarly articles are typically organized in the same basic fashion, which helps make them easier for you to recognize. Scholarly journals are one of three main types of publications, including popular (magazines and newspapers) and trade (for people who work in a specific field).

However, scholars also publish other kinds of works, such as books or even a professional blog or website, that may also be a scholarly/academic source for this assignment.

Today, various journals contain articles about human development, family studies, and related topics. Below are the current scholarly journals that are most heavily used by Penn State faculty and students. If you'd like additional recommendations, contact HDFS librarian Karla Schmit (KMS454@psu.edu) or a librarian at your location. 

For links to additional journals available at Penn State, see BrowZine: Social Work. If you are using it off-campus, choose “Penn State University Libraries” from the list, and supply your Access Account user ID and password when prompted.