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Research Process

Get help with any part of the research process.

Find newspaper, magazine, and journal articles in Helena College Library's online databases.

Search everything all at once or choose a specific database for a more targeted approach.

Use the Library Databases!

This video explains the benefits of using library databases for research over searching the web (i.e. what are the differences in the information you are searching).

Posted from Yavapai College Library

OneSearch

Use OneSearch to search across almost all of the library's databases at once for newspaper, magazine, and scholarly journal articles, as well as books and DVDs.

Choosing a Database

Article databases provide you with online access to magazine, journal and newspaper articles via your library. To help you find a specific database or identify the most appropriate databases for your topic/subject:

Depending on the database you are using, you may be able to all or only parts of an article:

  • Index: Includes only the article’s citation information (e.g. author, title, date, volume, etc.). Neither a summary, nor the full-text of the article are available.
  • Abstract: Includes the article’s citation information and a brief summary of the article's content. Abstracts do not include the full-text article.
  • Full-text: Includes an electronic copy of the actual article. Depending on the database, the article may be available in HTML format, .pdf format (displays the article as it originally appeared in the magazine with graphics and pictures), or both.

Comparison of Periodicals

 

Scholarly Journals

Popular Magazines

Newspapers

 

Example

Journal of Abnormal Psychology Psychology Today Magazine

Purpose

Present original research and ideas Provide general information and entertainment Present current events and articles of general public interest

Audience

Researchers, scholars and professionals in a particular field General public General public

Authors

Researchers and scholars Journalists and staff writers Staff writers and freelance journalists

Editors

Reviewed by editorial board or other experts or peers (peer-reviewed) before publication Magazine editors Newspaper editors

Coverage

Very narrow, specific subjects Wide variety of topics of public interest Current events and special features

Language

Technical, scholarly language specific to subject Easy to read and understand with little technical jargon Easy to read and understand with little to no technical jargon

References

Use citations (footnotes, endnotes, or bibliography/references) Few to no references included No references

Articles

Longer articles usually including an abstract, introduction/literature review, methods, results, and conclusion Brief, general summaries of a topic, including background information Generally brief presentations of facts and events, though features can be longer

Images

Tables, graphs or illustrations to support research and arguments Plentiful color illustrations or photos Some photographs and illustrations or charts
Frequency Bimonthly or quarterly Weekly or monthly Daily or weekly

 

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles


What is a peer-reviewed article?

From Lloyd Sealy Library

In academic publishing, the goal of peer review is to assess the quality of articles submitted for publication in a scholarly journal. Before an article is deemed appropriate to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, it must undergo the following process:

  •  The author of the article must submit it to the journal editor, who forwards the article to experts in the field. Because the reviewers specialize in the same scholarly area as the author, they are considered the author’s peers (hence “peer review”).
  •  These impartial reviewers are charged with carefully evaluating the quality of the submitted manuscript.
  •  The peer reviewers check the manuscript for accuracy and assess the validity of the research methodology and procedures.
  •  If appropriate, they suggest revisions. If they find the article lacking in scholarly validity and rigor, they reject it.

Because a peer-reviewed journal will not publish articles that fail to meet the standards established for a given discipline, peer-reviewed articles that are accepted for publication exemplify the best research practices in a field.