These search tools, also known as databases, will help you find peer-reviewed journal articles, an essential resource for assignments. Visit our Articles guide for detailed instructions.
Scholarly Publications | Substantive/Trade Publications | Popular Publications | Sensationalist Publications | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Audience | Academics, professors, students. | Educated audiences, practitioners. | General public. | Gullible audiences. |
Author | Scholars, experts, and specialists; credentials are listed. | Credentialed journalists; professionals and industry experts; credentials are usually listed. | Professional writers: journalists, staff, freelance writers; not necessarily experts in the field; authors and/or credentials not always listed. | Anyone. |
Publisher | Academic presses and professional organizations. | Nationally and internationally recognized organizations. | Commercial businesses. | Varies. Ranges from individuals to politically-minded groups to hate groups. |
Purpose | Report on scholarship and research. | Share news and trends with industry professionals. | Information and/or entertainment. | Cater to superstitions; elicit emotions and strong feelings for or against a particular topic. |
Tone | Factual, technical, and scholarly language. | Formal, technical language. Often uses industry jargon. | Relatively simple language. | Sensational terms. Propaganda. Often uses inflammatory or derogatory language. |
Appearance | Usually plain. May have tables, graphs, charts, and formulas. If photographs are present, they are directly associated with the topic. | Tables, charts, graphs, and images related to the article. More graphic design elements than scholarly publications. | Eye-catching and colorful. | Eye-catching and colorful; sometimes newspaper-like. Often only available online. |
Advertisements | Limited to advertisements for books and journals. | Most often limited to advertisements for items directly related to the publication or trade; some paid advertisements. | Paid advertisements. | Paid advertisements, often making their own sensationalist claims. Clickbait. |
Review Process | Reviewed by scholars. All data and interpretations of data are checked. | Reviewed by professional editors employed by the publication. Facts are checked. | Reviewed by professional editors employed by the publication. Facts might be checked. | No apparent or consistent review process. |
Sources | Always contains a bibliography, works cited, or references. | Often contains in-text citations. May contain references list. | Rarely identifies sources. | Rarely identifies sources. If sources are listed, they may not actually be reliable sources of information. |
Examples | Journal - American Water Works Association; Journal of Environmental Engineering; Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice; Water Environment Research | Engineering News Record (ENR); Civil Engineering (from ASCE); Treatment Plant Operator; Government reports and datasets. | Field and Stream, Sports Illustrated; Time; Newsweek | Globe; National Enquirer; Star; Weekly World News |