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Sociology 101 - Race and Statistics: Find Articles

Which One Do I Use?

question mark

Journals?  
Magazines?
Newspapers?

When doing research, it is useful to know what these different publications are and what kind of information they contain.

Journal articles are more scholarly or professional while magazine articles tend to be shorter and more general.

• Magazine articles appeal to the general reader and usually have relatively short articles are written in non-technical language are easy to understand

Newspaper articles, while not usually scholarly or professional, can give you the most current news and some additional facts on your topic.

Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles

Finding Articles on Your Topic  image of newspaper articles

Research on a subject is seldom complete without magazines, journals, and newspapers. You can find these articles in databases.

A database is a collection of information.  Most of the library's databases are electronic indexes, or lists, used to locate articles. You search these databases by typing in keywords.  If you have a hard time getting the articles you want or don't know what database to use, Chat with a Librarian and we'll help you.

To access the databases from off campus you will be prompted to enter your Cerritos College User ID and password. For more login information see the Database Login page.

See the Database Page for a complete description of the Cerritos College Library online resources.

Useful Databases

Below are the databases that I think are the best ones for you to search for your article.  You can search SocINDEX and Academic Search Complete at the same time.

Remember:

  • Always search databases using only the keywords that best describe your topic
  • Keywords can be combined into a search string with the operators "and", "or", "not"

 

See the Database Page for a complete description of the Cerritos College Library online resources.

HOW TO VIDEO: How to Search SocINDEX (applies to other databases from EbscoHost)

HOW TO VIDEO: How to search Ethnic NewsWatch and GenderWatch.

Scholarly Journals, Popular Magazines, Trade Publications

What is a Scholarly Journal?

Scholarly journals are generally published by and for experts. A publication is considered to be peer reviewed if its articles go through an official editorial process that involves review and approval by the author’s peers (people who are experts in the same subject area.) Articles in scholarly journals present new, previously unpublished research. Scholarly sources will almost always include:

  • Bibliography and footnotes
  • Author’s name and academic credentials

Use scholarly journals for highly focused original research. 

Examples: AMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, African American Review, Modern Fiction Studies, American Psychologist and American Sociological Review 

What is a Popular Magazine?

Articles in popular magazines tend to be written by staff writers or freelance journalists and are geared towards a general audience. While most magazines adhere to editorial standards, articles do not go through a peer review process and rarely contain bibliographic citations. Popular magazines are periodicals that one typically finds at grocery stores, airport newsstands, or bookstores. Use popular magazines for a general overview of current news and opinions, or firsthand accounts of an event.

Examples: Popular magazines range from highly respected publications such as Scientific American and The Atlantic Monthly to general interest magazines like People, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek and US News & World Report.

What is a Trade Publication?

Trade publications focus on a specific profession or trade. Articles in trade magazines cover the interest of skilled laborers, technicians, and artisans. Professional magazines cover the interests of professors, librarians, and members of other fields that require advanced degrees. Subject magazines cover a topic of interest to one or more professions. Use trade magazines for overviews of news and research in a particular field.

Examples: Legal Assistant Today and Library Journal

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