Learning about Journals & Articles (important!)

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Types of Periodicals | Primary & Secondary Sources | Peer Reviewed or Refereed Journals
Locating Specific Types of Journal Articles

A periodical is a generic term used for materials that are published at regular intervals–monthly, quarterly, daily, etc popular magazines scholarly journals subject or professional publications Periodicals are an excellent method of getting current information. Subjects that are new or too specialized to be covered in books can often be found in journals, magazines, and newspapers. Use the online databases available in the Electronic Resources section at www.nova.edu/library/eleclib/ to locate article citations abstracts full-text and/or full-image–when available Many of the online databases that NSU subscribes to contain full-text of articles. To find out if a particular periodical is available full-text in one of these databases, use the Full-Text Journal Title Search tools.

Types of Periodicals

Periodicals have a variety of purposes and kinds of audiences. Magazines may be appropriate for some purposes, journals of opinion for others, but usually the most important sources for college level research are academic journals. The definitions below will help you understand these terms: Magazines are commercial publications intended for a general, popular audience for the purpose of informing and entertaining. Journals are specialized, scholarly publications written by authorities in the field. They usually include bibliographies. Subject or professional/practitioner magazines are between magazines and journals, with articles written by experts but intended less to advance the field than to report on developments of interest. Trade journals are also between magazines and journals, but their focus includes more product and business information.

Primary & Secondary Sources

Another distinction made about research materials is between primary and secondary sources: Primary sources–eyewitness accounts, laboratory data, interviews, original manuscripts, or original research, published in either paper or other formats that may include microform and electronic reproduction. Examples are diaries, letters, speeches, minutes of meetings, scientific research reports, and news footage. Secondary sources–works that interpret primary sources, and includes reviews, criticism, editorials, and analysis. Most journal articles are secondary sources that provide analysis, interpretation, or evaluation by the writer.

Peer Reviewed or Refereed Journals

Peer reviewed or refereed journals are journals where the quality of the articles is maintained by a review process by experts prior to publication. Ulrich's Periodicals Directory, available online in the Electronic Resources section, allows you to search for refereed journals for a general discipline or to search for a specific periodical title and identify the characteristics of the publication. Several databases, including ProQuest Research Library, InfoTrac's Expanded Academic ASAP, and WilsonWeb, allow users to limit their search to refereed journals only. Ulrich's Periodicals Directory Ulrich's Periodicals Directory provides essential information on nearly a quarter of a million consumer and trade magazines, academic and scholarly publications, monographic series, newsletters, newspapers, electronic publications, 'zines, and many other types of serial publications and services published throughout the world on all subjects. Entries include bibliographic information; pricing, subscription, and distribution details; key publisher, editor, rights & permissions and advertising contact; access options; document delivery, indexing services, online vendors; annotations/brief content descriptions; and more. It also includes information on almost 55,000 ceased titles. To search for refereed publications for a general discipline or subject area type a general search term–such as computers or education or psychology–in the Subject field select Refereed in the Features options click the search button Subject search in Ulrich's Periodicals Directory. To search for a specific periodical title type a periodical title in the Title (Keyword) field click the search button Search results will contain matching journal titles listed in alphabetical order. Each refereed title will have the little refereed icon , as shown below Search result showing icon for referred titles.

Locating Specific Types of Journal Articles

Specific types of journal articles can be used as part of a database search. If you need to limit your search to a specific type of journal, use the following terms as part of your search: Quantitative research–systematic, empirical observation, followed by the application of statistical tests. Other terms to try include empirical study, original research, empirical research, and statistical analysis. Empirical research–any research involving the collection of new data. Other terms to try include empirical study, original research, and quantitative research. Literature review–summarizes previous important literature on a particular topic. Other terms to try include research review. Meta analysis–takes the results of several existing studies and analyzes them in a new way looking for previously unnoticed patterns or trends. Other terms to try include action based research, action research, and practicum. Qualitative research–research providing detailed narrative descriptions and explanations of phenomena investigated, with lesser emphasis given to numerical quantifications. Case study–detailed analyses focusing on a particular problem of an individual, group, or organization. Other terms to try include cross sectional studies, facility case studies, longitudinal studies, and case records. Change theory–theories and assumptions about the nature of change and how change can best be encouraged and facilitated. Other terms to try include change strategies or educational change. Theory–generalizations or principles supported by substantial evidence, but not conclusively proven, proposed as explanations of observed phenomena or the relations in a given body of facts. Other terms to try include theoretical models, models, and names of specific theories. Practitioner–information written by experts in the field aimed primarily at reporting on developments of interest rather than reporting research. Other terms to try include practitioners. Some databases, such as ERIC, allow searches to be limited by the target audience group, practitioners. Consult the Subject Guides: Research Methods for additional assistance.