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CAS 210: Landmark Speeches on Democracy and Dissent

A guide to support research in CAS 210

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Comparison of Types of Journals

The information below can help you understand the differences between scholarly journals, professional/trade journals, and popular periodicals. 

​Peer Reviewed = Scholarly?  Not always. Scholarly implies an academic audience whereas some non-scholarly works can undergo editorial review or review by peers.
Comparison of Scholarly, Professional, and Popular Periodicals
Criteria Scholarly Journals Professional/Trade Journals Popular Periodicals/ Magazines
Audience Researchers and experts Members of a trade or profession The general public
Author Researchers and experts Staff writers and experts in the field Staff writers, although many articles are unsigned
References (Sources cited) Includes reference lists and bibliography. All quotes and facts are documented. Reference lists sometimes included. References rarely included.
Purpose To disseminate research findings  To publicize current topics in the field and professional issues To disseminate general information or to entertain
Content Detailed research reports and methodologies  Trends, standards, and new technologies in the field General interest stories and news; may include personal narrative and opinions
Language Jargon that assumes expertise in the field Jargon that assumes expertise in the field Language that requires no expertise
Publisher Associations or universities Associations Commercial organizations
Layout Highly structured organization; includes abstract, bibliography, charts or graphs Structured organization; usually includes abstract, bibliography, charts or graphs Informal organization: eye-catching type and format; includes illustrations or photographs
Examples Journal of the American Medical Association; Political Science Quarterly Hospital Business Week; Real Estate Weekly News; Farm Industry News Time; Newsweek; Science News

Search: Combining Terms

Combining Search terms by using AND/OR/NOT

These 'connector' terms (often called "Boolean operators") are used to combine search terms and concepts.

AND

  •  narrows a search so that ALL search TERMS are retrieved.
  • Use this to link different concepts in your search
  • example: dogs AND nutrition

OR 

  • expands a search to include ANY ONE of your search terms. 
  • Use this to link synonyms.
  • example: dogs OR canine

NOT

  • eliminates unwanted search terms. 
  • Use this carefully because it often results in eliminating some good citations.
  • example: dogs NOT cats

Evaluating Resources

Think critically about web sites and print resources.  

  • Authority: Who is the author or creator?  What are their credentials for this topic?
  • Content: What is the author's bias? Who was the information written for?
  • Currency: What is the publication date?  When was the website last updated? Does this matter for your topic?
  • Validity: Is the information accurate or valid?  Are there references to other works that support the information?
  • Publisher: Do they have a good reputation?

Citing Your Sources

When using information from another source you must give credit to the original author or you are plagiarizing. You give credit by citing the source. Make sure your citation contains everything you would need to backtrack and find the information again. It is best to pick one citation style and be consistent.