Begin your research by seeking some general background information about your topic using reference resources (below). Library databases are online collections of resources and can include a variety of formats as well as levels of quality. There are general databases such as the Quick Search and discipline specific databases.
For more information about what reference resources are, click here. For more guidance on how to research, click here. Some reference resource can be found in print at the library, while other reference resources are available electronically. *Remember, you can always search through the PCC Library, search for FAQs and ask for help!
These databases are good starting points for your research. They are user-friendly and trustworthy resources. If you are unfamiliar with using research databases, these are especially good, before you use more subject-specific databases.
More options for finding open access journals
Open Access (OA) means free unrestricted online access to peer-review scholarly research, including scholarly journal articles, theses, book chapters and scholarly monographs. For more information about open access and how it applies to you please view the Open Access Library Guide.
Different types of publications have different purposes and different audiences. When we talk about journals, we can usually divide these publications into three broad categories: scholarly, popular, and trade publications.
Scholarly Journals | Popular Journals | Trade Journals | |
---|---|---|---|
Purpose | Informs and reports on original research done by scholars and experts in the field. | Entertains and informs a general audience without providing in-depth analysis. | Reports on industry trends and new products or techniques useful to people in a trade or business. |
Authors | Articles are written by subject specialists and experts in the field. | Articles are written by journalists, freelance writers, or an editorial staff. | Articles are written by specialists in a certain field or industry. |
Audience | Intended for a limited audience - researchers, scholars, and experts. | Intended for a broad segment of the population, appealing to non-specialists. | Intended for practititioners in a particular profession, business, or industry. |
For more database options for Science & Technology, click here.
Does your instructor require you to use scholarly, or peer-reviewed articles? Watch the video below from Vanderbuilt University to find out what peer-reviewed articles are.
Your instructor may ask you to use only scholarly resources for your paper. What's the difference between a scholarly or non-scholarly resource?
Scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources include books and articles published in scholarly journals, encyclopedias, and books. These sources are reviewed by a panel of experts in that particular field, and are often published by a professional association or a university press. These experts ensure the information published is credible before accepting it for publication.
Non-Scholarly sources include websites, magazines, newspapers, and books that undergo no expert review prior to publishing.
Check with your instructor if you plan to use any non-scholarly websites and use the CRAAP test to evaluate them.