Begin by studying the bibliographic citation. A bibliographic citation is a written description of a book, article, essay, etc. The publication information consists of copyright and publisher for books. This information will help you determine early in the research process the probable usefulness of the publication. Reputable presses are generally regarded as an indication of quality.
Edition is listed on the verso of the title page.
Editions indicate the writing has been updated. Several editions may indicate that it has become a standard source in the field. Scholarly journals are often published by academic presses and professional organizations. Scholarly journals contain few, if any, pictures. Charts, graphs, etc.