What Are Acceptable Scientific References?

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SUMMARY

This discussion emphasizes the importance of using acceptable scientific references when citing theories and published papers. It highlights the necessity of consulting the master journal list provided by Thomson Scientific, which serves as a benchmark for peer-reviewed journals recognized by the academic community. If a theory is not widely known or is considered obscure, it must be supported by a published paper from this list to be deemed credible. The discussion also clarifies that while speculation is acceptable, definitive explanations require proper citations from recognized sources.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of peer-reviewed journals
  • Familiarity with the Thomson Scientific master journal list
  • Knowledge of scientific citation standards
  • Ability to differentiate between common knowledge and obscure theories
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Thomson Scientific master journal list for acceptable references
  • Learn about the peer-review process and its significance in academic publishing
  • Explore citation styles and standards in scientific writing
  • Investigate the role of speculation in scientific discourse
USEFUL FOR

Researchers, academic writers, and students in scientific fields who need to understand the standards for citing scientific theories and published papers.

Ivan Seeking
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If you follow this link you will find the master journal list at the bottom of the page. There is a search engine that allows one to search by a number of different criteria. This is a list of acceptable references when citing scientific theories and published papers. If a journal is not referenced here, the poster must demonstrate that the source is a peer-reviewed journal recognized by the mainstream academic community.

Obviously we reference material published in news and other media sources, but if a specific and obscure, new, or otherwise generally unknown theory [not common knowledge] is to be used as a scientific explanation for a phenomenon, then the theory must be found in a paper published in a journal listed at this link.
http://scientific.thomson.com/index.html

As an example: If it is to be argued that earthlights are caused by piezoelectric phenomena within the Earth's crust, then that theory would require a published paper as a source.
 
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I should make it clear that as always, well cosidered speculation having a scientific basis is fine for the sake of discussion, but any "definitive" explanation citing a new theory requires a published paper.
 
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