Research 101 - Getting Started in Library Research
Try the steps outlined in this guide for a simple and effective search strategy to find information for your research paper, project or presentation.
Peer Reviewed? Refereed?
Peer Review: The process of obtaining impartial opinions from the research and academic community in order to ascertain whether papers submitted for publication in journals are of a sustainable standard.
Referee: An independent expert who assists the editor of a journal in evaluating the acceptability of contributions submitted for publication.
Criteria for Evaluation
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Scholarly Journals
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Popular Magazines
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Bibliographies or references included |
Usually DO NOT have bibliographies |
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Authors are experts, often professors at universities or research centers
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Authors are often journalists or generalists |
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Contain articles approved by author's peers (peer reviewed) or refereed
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Contain articles chosen by editors who are employed by the magazine or people within a certain trade field |
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Audience is the scholarly reader, such as professors, researchers, students
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Audience is the general population |
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Standardized formats are usually followed (APA, MLA, etc.)
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Various formats which are often unstructured |
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Written in the jargon of the field
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Written for anyone to understand |
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Any illustrations support the text (maps, tables, photos)
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Often illustrated for market appeal |
