Journals & Databases

Popular Magazines

• Aimed at a general audience• Published frequently (weekly)• Wide scope of coverage

(entertainment, hobbies, amateur science)

• Background on significant events

• Easily located at newsstands & book stores

Trade publications

• Aimed at workers in a specific industry, occupation or profession.

• Covers minute detail of interest to that industry.

• Controlled circulation (subscription only) with targeted advertising to that industry.

Peer reviewed/Refereed/Scholarly

• Articles examined by people with credentials.

• Often has Journal, Review or Research in the name.

• Controlled circulation, usually subscription only

Peer reviewed•Assumes specialised prior knowledge• Often original research or theory• Sources always cited.

How not to find journal articles

• Catalogue– only gives you call number or link– does not provide article level of detail.

• Browse through shelves– print collection is small percentage of

available titles.– only current 10 years is on shelf.

Finding journal articles

• Databases: Collection of references that may be searched with keywords.– Federated databases (search multiple

companies simultaneously)– Individual databases (better limits through

their search interface)

Why didn’t I get full text?

• No subscription to that journal• Embargo – a period of time a journal is

unavailable in full text, between 3-12 months.• No full text available– too old