1. Use a KEYWORD search.
2. Find a relevant article.
3. Try clicking an official SUBJECT descriptor from this article. Or look for a "Find Similar Articles" function.
4. Use precise terminology from the article in a new Keyword search.
5. Consult an encyclopedia for overviews of concepts (see box at lower left).
6. Email articles to yourself--with citations.
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. |
Remember that the best way to find something is to know what you are looking for. Make sure you have a good project statement or thesis and that you understand your topic.
An unprecedented collection of peer-reviewed, full-text journals for academic research.
Includes histories of social movements from a sociological perspective.