The purpose of scholarly journals is to inform other scholars of research findings. Some knowledge of the subject terminology is required. Show
Peer reviewed and refereed journalsMost scholarly journals are peer reviewed or refereed. This refers to a process in which submitted articles undergo rigorous evaluation by a group of academics or researchers whose knowledge and credentials are similar to those of the author, hence the author's 'peers'. The reviewers send their recommendations on to the journal's editors. Articles ultimately approved for publication have gone through this refereed process and when published, further the knowledge in a given discipline. Some article databases, such as Academic Search Premier, allow you to limit your search to peer-reviewed or scholarly publications, excluding the popular material. If you need to use scholarly resources for your research paper, checking this box will help limit the results to journal titles that are considered scholarly. Here is a great video that will help you better understand the peer review process: Peer Review in Three Minutes [NCSU Libraries]
This guide will help you identify and evaluate scholarly (also known as peer-reviewed) journals, magazines, and trade publications — both print and online. For more help, Ask a Librarian. Scholarly, academic, and peer-reviewed journals
AppearanceScholarly journals usually have simple covers, clearly stating basic information like title, volume/issue numbers, and the name of the organisation or university responsible for their publication. ExamplesThe SFU Library subscribes to thousands of academic (or scholarly) journals. Here are just a few examples:
Popular magazines and articles
AppearancePopular magazines usually have glossy, coloured covers, designed to attract attention on the newsstand. Pages are usually laid out with photos, appealing graphics, and advertisements. ExamplesThe SFU Library subscribes to many popular magazines, for example:
Trade journals (or publications)
AppearanceLike popular magazines, trade publications may have glossy, coloured covers, advertisements, and appealing graphics.
Examples
Choosing academic or popular sources
When selecting articles, think about how you intend to use the information
Finding scholarly journals at the SFU LibraryFor an introduction to different ways to search for journal articles, see How to find journal articles. For more about peer-reviewed articles, see What is a peer-reviewed journal? Limiting or filtering your database searchIf you are searching for scholarly or peer-reviewed articles in a database, you may be able to limit your results to peer-reviewed or scholarly journal articles. Watch for check boxes with wording such as "scholarly journals" or "peer-reviewed." Caveat: Be cautious when using this feature. Different instructors and publishers will have different definitions of what a scholarly journal is. Use your judgement, and double-check using the criteria on this page as well. Additional information and resourcesOn library research
On evaluating sourcesIncreasingly, academic publications are available on the open web as well as in Library databases (and of course in print). An essential part of the research process is to be able to evaluate the authority, relevance, and credibility of sources no matter where you find them.
On journal articles
On writing
The Student Learning Commons offers further resources and services on academic writing. Acknowledgements Much of this guide, and many of the images, have been adapted from a page developed by the University of Arizona Libraries. What is a research aid that Catalogues articles from a large number of scholarly journals?Ch. 7, 14 and 15 test. What is periodical database?Databases (also called periodical databases) include the citations of articles in magazines, journals and newspapers. Some article indexes contain abstracts or brief summaries of the articles.
What is a list of all the books periodicals and other resources on by a library?Catalog "A database (either online or on paper cards) listing and describing the books, journals, government documents, audiovisual and other materials held by a library. Various search terms allow you to look for items in the catalog."
Which is a number used in libraries to classify books and periodicals and to indicate where they can be found on the shelves?The Dewey Decimal system is a classification system used by libraries to arrange books via subject. Each book is issued a shelfmark number, usually found on the spine of the book, and arranged in numerical order.
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