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Journals |
General
Information |
Periodical publications (usually
monthly or quarterly), containing scholarship,
empirical research reports, and/or learned commentary on subjects of special
interest to a specific academic or professional community. Journals are a formal
means of communicating ideas in academic scholarship; and publication in journals
is a major criterion for promotion among university faculty. Articles are peer reviewed or refereed (screened) before they are approved for publication by peer professionals (scholars and/or practitioners)
who evaluate articles by such criteria
as:
- Sound methodology -- is the method by which these data
were gathered consistent with normal and accepted practice within
the discipline?
- Conclusions -- are the conclusions consistent with the
data gathered?
- Significance -- is the research trivial within the context
of the discipline?
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Strengths:
- Written by and for scholars, researchers, and professionals -- a formal conversation among specialists
- Contain bibliographies with full citations
- Filtering ensures high credibility
- In-depth analysis of narrowly-focused subjects
- Authoritative source for research findings
Considerations:
- Dense, technical vocabularies may require reading an overview and gathering terminology beforehand
- Normally published monthly or quarterly; not a great source for the latest developments
- May only be available in libraries or through licensed Internet sources ($$)
- Target audience: Scholars, researchers, & professionals within a discipline
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