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Getting Started: Resource Types

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What do I Choose?

Scholarly Journal

  • Reports original research or experimentation

  • Articles written by an expert in the field for other experts in the field

  • Articles use specialized jargon of the discipline

  • Articles undergo peer review process before acceptance for publication in order to assure creative content

  • Authors of articles always cite their sources in the form of footnotes or bibliographies

Examples:

Journal of Asian Studies

Psychophysiology

Social Research

A note about "peer review." Peer review insures that the research reported in a journal's article is sound and of high quality. Sometimes the term "refereed" is used instead of peer review.


 

Trade Journal

  • Discusses practical information in industry

  • Contains news, product information, advertising, and trade articles

  • Contains information on current trends in technology

  • Articles usually written by experts in the field for other experts in the field

  • Articles use specialized jargon of the discipline

  • Useful to people in the trade field and to people seeking orientation to a vocation

Examples:

Advertising Age

Independent Banker

People Management


 

General Interest Magazines

  • Provides information in a general manner to a broad audience

  • Articles generally written by a member of the editorial staff or a freelance writer

  • Language of articles geared to any educated audience, no subject expertise assumed

  • Articles are often heavily illustrated, generally with photographs

  • No peer review process

  • Sources are sometimes cited, but more often there are no footnotes or bibliography

Examples:

Newsweek

Popular Science

Psychology Today


 

Popular Magazine

  • Articles are short and written in simple language with little depth to the content of these articles

  • The purpose is generally to entertain, not necessarily inform

  • Information published in popular magazines is often second-or third-hand

  • The original source of information contained in articles is obscure

  • Articles are written by staff members or freelance writers

Examples:

People

Rolling Stone

Working Woman