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Information Systems at Harrisburg

Resources for students in INFSYS 540 at Harrisburg Campus

Literature Types and Characteristics

Searching Techniques

Keywords are the terms you use to search in the Libraries' databases. They distill your complex topic down into its most basic elements. You keywords should not be a sentence. 

Keep in mind that you can try many different keywords and can always look for new ones -- when you find articles, books, or other resources, see what keywords the database uses to describe the article. If you're stuck, these new keywords can help you find more information. 

If you are finding you get too many results (thousands) you may want to try adding a few more keywords to make your search more specific to a country, organization, or time period. Apply filters to restrict to certain kinds of results based on publication type, time period, etc. If you are not getting any results or only getting a handful of results, try using a fewer keywords, or try some broader terms.

You may need to conduct broader searches for industry information or product categories if you are unable to find specific results for your topic. 

Is it Scholarly Research?

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. 
For your Individual Literature Review, you may use journal articles and conference papers only. 
When looking for PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH, we want to take certain steps to verify information:
1. When searching in a database, be sure to apply the scholarly/peer-review filter to remove magazine articles, newspapers, and reports
2. After locating a relevant article, skim it to look for research methodology (necessary for something to be research), results, and a formal reference list
3. You can check a JOURNAL's (not an article's) peer review status using the database Ulrich'sWeb. Search for the title of the JOURNAL, and if a referee jersey appears next to the title in the results, it is peer-reviewed (aka refereed). You will still need to verify that your article is a research article using step 2, as journals publish things like editorials, letters, book reviews, and features that are NOT research. 
Comparison of Scholarly, Conference, Professional, and Popular Periodicals
Criteria Scholarly Journals Conference Papers Professional/Trade Journals Popular Periodicals/ Magazines
Audience Researchers and experts Researchers, experts, students Members of a trade or profession The general public
Author Researchers and experts Researchers, experts, students 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. Includes reference lists and bibliography. All quotes and facts are documented. Reference lists sometimes included. References rarely included.
Purpose To disseminate research findings  To quickly disseminate research findings; possibly preliminary 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  Shorter research reports and methodologies. May be used to refine research questions 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 Jargon that assumes expertise in the field Language that requires no expertise
Publisher Associations or universities Conferences or Associations Associations Commercial organizations
Layout Highly structured organization; includes abstract, bibliography, charts or graphs Format may vary by conference, but should include an abstract and bibliography 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 Frequently released as "Proceedings"; Proceedings of the 49th Hawaiian International Conference on System Sciences  Hospital Business Week; Real Estate Weekly News; Farm Industry News Time; Newsweek; Science News