Understanding Scholarly Output Types
This guide offers guidance on the different forms scholarship can take and how they can be shared and archived.
Scholarly work can take many forms, from articles and books to presentations, digital projects, creative works, and more. Different outputs serve different purposes; some communicate new research findings, others provide synthesis and context, and some help you reach broader or public audiences. This page introduces common types of scholarly outputs and highlights what they are used for, along with options for sharing or archiving them.
Disciplinary norms shape which outputs “count,” where they are published, and how they are evaluated. Some fields emphasize journal articles and conference papers, while others prioritize monographs, creative or applied outputs, or non-traditional digital work. Because expectations vary widely, faculty should consult their department or school evaluation document, talk with colleagues, and review standards from relevant professional associations to understand which types are recognized and valued.
Following the norms of your field supports career progression, strengthens professional visibility, and ensures compliance with funding or regulatory requirements. It is also important to remember that peer-review practices, data-sharing expectations (including open versus restricted access), and long-term archiving requirements differ across disciplines.
The sections below outline major types of scholarly outputs, what they are used for, and where you can share or archive them so they remain accessible over time.
Common types of scholarly outputs include:
Use the sections below to learn what each output is, how it’s typically used, and where you can share or archive it.
If you have questions about selecting and sharing your scholarly outputs, please contact your librarian subject specialist for assistance.
What they are: Contributions to edited volumes that explore focused topics, case studies, or conceptual themes.
What they are used for: Offering deeper narrative or interpretive scholarship than a typical journal article. Chapters are valued across many fields, especially in the humanities and social sciences.
Where to share or archive: Many presses allow sharing the accepted manuscript (but not the final PDF). You can often deposit this version in DigitalCommons@EMU or a disciplinary repository. Please check the publisher’s policy first.
What they are: Scripts, packages, workflows, or software tools created to support a project or enable reproducible scholarship.
What they are used for: Allowing others to understand, validate, or build on your methods. Code is increasingly recognized as a scholarly output in its own right.
Where to share or archive: Share code on GitHub. To make a stable, citable version, archive a release in Zenodo and mint a DOI. OSF and discipline-specific repositories are also good options.
What they are: Oral or visual presentations delivered at academic conferences to share works in progress or emerging ideas.
What they are used for: Receiving early feedback, connecting with colleagues, and building visibility for scholarship before it becomes a publication.
Where to share or archive: Upload slides, notes, or recordings to DigitalCommons@EMU, OSF, SlideShare, or SpeakerDeck. This makes your presentation discoverable long after the conference ends.
What they are: Written papers or extended abstracts associated with conference presentations. Depending on the field, they can be lightly reviewed or fully peer-reviewed.
What they are used for: Sharing early versions of scholarship, documenting a conference contribution, or establishing precedence for new ideas.
Where to share or archive: Proceedings are usually published by the conference or a partner publisher. You can often post a preprint or accepted manuscript in DigitalCommons@EMU or a disciplinary repository.
What they are: Performances, exhibitions, compositions, or other artistic works that count as scholarship in arts-related disciplines.
What they are used for: Showcasing original creative scholarship and advancing practice within artistic fields.
Where to share or archive: Deposit recordings, programs, images, or scripts in DigitalCommons@EMU when rights permit. You can also use discipline-specific platforms or professional websites to increase visibility.
What they are: Structured collections of data—such as spreadsheets, transcripts, coded data, or geospatial files—created during scholarly work.
What they are used for: Supporting transparency, replication, and reuse. Many disciplines and funders now expect datasets to be made publicly available when possible.
Where to share or archive: Upload datasets to a disciplinary repository (such as ICPSR or Dryad) or a general repository like Zenodo, Figshare, or OSF. Some publishers request dataset DOIs for linked publications.
What they are: Short pieces that interpret new research, respond to developments in the field, or evaluate recent publications.
What they are used for: Demonstrating ongoing engagement with the discipline, contributing to scholarly dialogue, and providing service to journals or professional organizations. These outputs show active participation in shaping the field.
Where to share or archive:Publish in journals or disciplinary outlets and deposit accepted versions when permitted. You can also archive PDFs, links, or metadata in DigitalCommons@EMU to increase visibility and preserve your work.Check sharing permissions with Sherpa Romeo.
What they are: Peer-reviewed pieces that share original scholarship, literature reviews, theoretical work, or new methods.
What they are used for: Reaching academic audiences with polished, vetted scholarship. Journal articles are central in many disciplines and often play a key role in promotion and tenure.
Where to share or archive: Publish with a journal, then—when allowed—deposit a preprint or accepted manuscript in DigitalCommons@EMU or a disciplinary repository. Check sharing permissions with Sherpa Romeo.
What they are: Long-form scholarship that develops a sustained argument or presents major research over several chapters.
What they are used for: Making substantial contributions to a field. In book-centered disciplines, monographs remain essential for tenure and promotion.
Where to share or archive: While the final book is usually not shareable, you can often archive related materials, such as datasets, images, appendices, or chapter preprints, in DigitalCommons@EMU, Zenodo, or OSF.
Examples include digital humanities projects, documentaries, digital exhibits, podcast episodes, data visualizations, and web-based scholarly projects.
What they are: Digital or multimodal scholarly works that communicate research in formats beyond traditional print publications. NTROs often combine technical, creative, and analytical components.
What they are used for: Reaching broader audiences, supporting public scholarship, documenting digital or artistic practice, and experimenting with new modes of research dissemination. NTROs are increasingly recognized in tenure and promotion portfolios.
Where to share or archive: Host or publish on project websites, GitHub, university platforms, streaming platforms, or digital humanities repositories. You can also archive stable versions, documentation, or project descriptions in DigitalCommons@EMU to ensure long-term access.
What they are: Scholarly products that document and protect new technologies, processes, materials, or methods developed through your research or creative practice.
What they are used for: Demonstrating innovation, securing intellectual property rights, supporting commercialization, and strengthening grant proposals or industry partnerships. Patents often highlight the broader impact of faculty research.
Where to share or archive: File formally through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or international offices. EMU inventors should consult with the EMU Office of Technology Transfer and Compliance for additional information.
What they are: Visual summaries of research or projects, typically presented at academic conferences. Posters use concise text, visuals, and graphics to share preliminary results, works in progress, or small projects with peers. They are a conversation-starter rather than a detailed publication.
What they are used for: Sharing early-stage findings, gathering feedback, and networking within a scholarly community. Posters allow presenters to explain their work one-on-one, discuss ideas, and refine research based on peer input.
Where to share or archive: Present at academic conferences or symposia, then post in your institutional repository (such as DigitalCommons@EMU), or on platforms such as SlideShare for broader visibility.
What they are: Invited contributions that provide authoritative summaries, definitions, or overviews of key topics, people, methods, or debates in a field.
What they are used for: Documenting subject expertise, building disciplinary visibility, and showing scholarly service. These entries often count as peer-reviewed or editorially reviewed work depending on the venue.
Where to share or archive: Include links or allowed versions in DigitalCommons@EMU, faculty webpages, or CVs. Many publishers permit archiving accepted manuscripts, so check their self-archiving policies.
What they are: Analytical or policy-oriented scholarship prepared for agencies, funders, community partners, or professional organizations.
What they are used for: Sharing findings and recommendations with practitioners or public audiences. These outputs often have broad real-world impact, even if they’re not formally published.
Where to share or archive: Deposit reports in DigitalCommons@EMU, post them on the sponsoring organization’s website, or upload them to public repositories like SSRN, Zenodo, or OSF.