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Help and Research Tips Whenever you have questions about information resources or library research strategies, we want to help! There are many ways to contact us: use of the Ask a Reference Question form, visiting or calling the Reference Desk
(281-283-3910), or scheduling a reference appointment. See also our library how-to guides (Bibliotips) and research tutorials. For clarification of specific class assignments and requirements, always check with your professor.
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In some databases, you can limit a search to peer-reviewed or refereed journals (those in which subject experts review submitted manuscripts and determine whether they meet scholarly criteria for publication). Because peer-reviewed journals may include editorials, news, and book reviews, examine a retrieved article for clues that it is scholarly in nature. Does it contain references (a bibliography of cited works)? Does it report on a research study, or does it provide new analysis on a topic, theory, or literary or artistic work? Is it more than a few pages long? How does the author support his or her claims? If in doubt about whether an article meets requirements for an assignment, check with your professor.
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You also may check whether a journal is refereed or identified as an academic/scholarly journal by looking it up in Ulrich's Periodicals Directory. Remember to evaluate articles on their own merits, however, to determine if they are scholarly in nature.
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For more information about the differences among scholarly journals, popular, and trade magazines, consult the following resources:
Popular Magazines vs Trade Magazines vs Scholarly Journals
Naomi Lederer, Colorado State University Libraries. Provides criteria related to appearance, audience, content, accountability, and advertisements for each of these types of periodicals, as well as Evaluation Clues for Articles Found on the Web or in Library Databases, advice on How to Evaluate Journal Articles, and information on peer review.
Comparing Scholarly Journals, Popular and Trade Magazines
Marriott Library, University of Utah. Examines purpose/content/examples, audience, authors/editors, accountability, appearance, publisher, and access criteria, and defines related terms (including peer-reviewed/refereed).
What is a Scholarly Journal?
Simon Fraser University Library. Identifies characteristics of periodicals, magazines, trade magazines, scholarly journals, the peer review or referee process, primary and secondary sources, and review articles.
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