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The source I have chosen to evaluate is Ecology & Wonder in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site by author Robert William Stanford.
Based on the How to Evaluate Sources of Scientific Information Tutorial presented in module 1, in order to determine whether a paper is academic or not, three criteria must be met. The first is that the text is written by an expert in the field, second is that it includes in-text citations and lastly that it contains a bibliography. With this in mind, while reviewing my chosen study, I can definitely say it is an academic study. A multitude of experts in their field are noted through the text, along with a wide variety of in text references to other material that solidify claims and a bibliography that provides easy to access pathways to the materials referenced in the text to verify their standing as well.
To determine if this text was peer reviewed, I found in the acknowledgements portion a brief summary of the authors peer review process to ensure publication through a university. The author also notes editors and many others who helped revise the text prior to publication.
To assess if this text is academic material, I am seeking a summary of findings or results. This is a very large text that covers many topics when viewing the ecology of each unique rocky mountain and its history. This means that the findings are listed at the end of every subject covered as opposed to all in one place at the end of the text. I feel that this qualifies the research as academic.
This source is classified as academic, peer-reviewed research material.
References
Sandford, Robert W. Ecology & Wonder in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage. Edmonton: AU Press, 2014.
Tutorial: How to Evaluate Sources of Scientific Information [Internet]. Kamloops, BC: Thompson Rivers University [cited 2020 Jul 20]. Available from: https://barabus.tru.ca/biol3021/evaluating_information.html#1
