Resources for Information Skills

Section contents page Introduction Finding the information you need Defining your information needs General criteria for evaluating information GEvaluating books Evaluating journal articles Evaluating journal articles: continued... Evaluating internet resources Summary
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Evaluating Journal Articles

To evaluate journal articles you still need to ask yourself - Who, When, Why and What? You also need to know Where the article is published. Is it in a scholarly journal, popular magazine or trade publication?

Scholarly journals:

Scholarly journals are the primary method of communication particularly within the scientific, technical and medical fields. They contain articles describing high quality research that have been reviewed by experts in the field, prior to publication.

You should use information from scholarly journals in your assignments because:
  • They are more current than books
  • They contain the latest research in your field
  • They are peer reviewed and has high quality information

Popular magazines and newspapers:

Popular magazines and newspapers, on the otherhand, are written with a more general audience in mind. Usually, articles published in these will not be so detailed or assume any prior knowledge of the topic. The authors may or may not be experts in their field; they may or may write with particular slant or bias. The articles contain few, if any, references to other sources or research. Regional newspapers are excellent sources for local issues. Examples of popular magazines are Time, Psychology Today and the Economist.

You should use information from popular magazines and newspapers in your assignment if:
  • You need general information on current events of the day
  • You need to show how the general media portray your topic
  • You are researching popular communication and culture

Trade magazines:

Trade magazines are magazines developed for the professional with an interest in a specific occupation. Articles in trade magazines are generally about industry trends, new products or techniques, and organisational news. They do not normally contain research articles but may contain useful information from a practical point of view. Examples of trade magazines include Advertising Age, Science News and PC Magazine.

Trade magazines may be useful for topics concerning a business or industry or where economic data is needed.