Journals can be described as academic magazines. They are published on a regular basis to report current research within a discipline.
Library databases are online collections of journals and journal articles. They can include statistics, images, reports and books.
Journal articles can be used as sources of information in assignments, as they provide current and original research on a topic. However, there are some things to consider when using journal articles as sources:
Articles found within the library collection via library databases or MultiSearch are good quality sources of academic information. You should be aware though that the reputation and credibility of journals can vary. You can check indicators like the affiliation of the authors, the scope of the journal, the peer-review process, and the citation impact of the article, to see if the article is a reliable source.
Compare and contrast the journal article with other sources on the same topic. Journal articles may present preliminary or incomplete results that are subject to change or revision. Therefore, it is important to compare and contrast the journal article with other sources, such as books, reports, or websites, to evaluate its validity, reliability, and relevance.
An article that has been peer-reviewed has been read and approved for publication by experts in the field. Therefore, depending on your assignment topic, it may be better to use a peer-reviewed article as your source rather than one published in a popular or trade magazine.
You can browse journal titles within your subject area on Publication Finder.
Open Access means making research freely available online so that there are no barriers to accessing or reading it.
