Searching for articles in library databases is different from searching on the open web. In most cases, a keyword search is the best way to search for articles on a topic.
To get the best results, think of the most important concepts in your search, then separate them with an "and" in the search box.
For example, to find articles about ultrasound the search ultrasound and engineering is preferred over just ultrasound engineering.
Try experimenting with other terms to find more books or articles. Try more specific words in your search to get more or different hits. To get even more hits, use the word "or".
To eliminate unwanted hits, try using the "not" operator. For example, the search ultrasound not medical would result in a list with fewer articles about the medical uses of ultrasound.
Academic Journals |
Magazines |
Trade Journals |
|
| Purpose | To publish research and scholarship | To inform and entertain | To inform and support |
| Audience | Researchers, scientists, scholars, professors, graduate and undergraduate students | General readers | Members of a profession |
| Authors | Scholars & researchers with credentials, and institutional affiliations listed. | Journalists & writers. Often unattributed. | Journalists, practitioners in the field. |
| Editors | Board of scholars working in the specific discipline or field covered by the journal | Employees of the magazine | Employees of the publication |
| Review process | Peer-review: Articles are reviewed by scholars in the field with extensive knowledge of the subject matter. | Editor, and perhaps a fact-checker; employees of the magazine | Reviewed by publication employees |
| Frequency | Monthly, quarterly, bi-annually | Weekly or monthly | Weekly or monthly |
| Appearance | Plain, often B&W. Lots of text, often with charts & graphs. Very few advertisements. | Glossy, with lots of pictures and advertisements. | Glossy or newspaper-like. Pictures and advertising. |
| Language | Specialized language of the academic discipline. | Everyday language | Technical jargon of the field |
| Length of articles | Usually long | Usually short or very brief | Varies |
| Format of articles | Structured: abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion | No formal structure | Usually no formal structure |
| Documentation | Often extensive bibliography of works cited, or footnotes/references. | Informal mention of sources in the text | Sometimes includes bibliographies/references |
To cite this LibGuide use the following templates:
APA: Northern Essex Community College Library. (Date updated). Title of page. Title of LibGuide. URL
MLA: Northern Essex Community College Library. "Title of Page." Title of LibGuide, Date updated, URL.