Finding Articles--Part 1 An Introduction to Periodical Literature Authored by Marianne Nolan and Ken Burhanna The text only versions provide a linear presentation of the Hands-On flash modules.  The Hands-On modules often incorporate images and interactive presentations to help demonstrate and support the text.  These images and interactive features are lost in the text only format.  Users can supplement their reading of the text versions by going onto the World Wide Web and visiting the web sites and doing the searches that the text indicates.  This is most easily done by printing the text version and using it as a guide. After completing this module you will: 1. Understand the Value of Periodical Literature 2. Be Familiar with the Different Types of Periodicals 3. Know What a Research Database is 4. Be Able to Read Journal Citations 5. Be Able to Identify Scholarly Journals Introduction Periodicals are materials published on a regular basis (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).  Newspapers, magazines, and journals are types of periodicals.  In the past periodicals were solely published on paper, but now many also appear electronically on the Internet (e-journals).  Some are published exclusively on the Internet. 1. The Value of Periodical Literature Periodical literature serves many purposes, from reporting recent news to communicating results of research studies. Periodical literature is most valuable in that it represents the first place stories, events, discoveries, and ideas appear formally in print. Because of the currency of periodical literature, it serves as the foundation of communication in many fields of study. So you can expect to become more familiar with periodical literature throughout your education.  Your instructors will expect you to read and analyze articles that appear in the literature as part of your studies. 2. Types of Periodicals It's important to be familiar with four basic types of periodicals: -- Newspapers -- Popular Magazines -- Trade Journals -- Scholarly Journals Newspapers Newspapers report the most current information in print form.  They deliver news stories and editorial comment on events concerning all aspects of human endeavor.  They typically have a geographic focus.  The Plain Dealer is an example of a local newspaper.  Most newspapers now publish an online version. Popular Magazines Popular magazines aim to entertain. They report on current events in non-technical language.  They rely heavily on advertisers and normally contain as much advertising content as informational content.  These publications normally include glossy, color photos.  People Magazine is an example. Trade Journals Trade journals contain articles written by and for people working in specific fields. They report on new products, practices, and trends in the field.  Often the publishing body is a professional organization.  For example, the trade journal American Libraries is published by the American Library Association. Scholarly Journals Scholarly journals (sometimes called academic journals) report original research and provide in-depth analysis of topics.  These journals are written by experts and researchers using a highly technical vocabulary. The Journal of Theoretical Biology is an example. Scholarly journals are the foundation of scholarly communication in the academic world.  Your professors and instructors will expect you to become familiar with the scholarly journals in your area of study.   Later on in this lesson we will study how to identify scholarly journals. 3. What is a Research Database? A research database is a systematic guide to the contents of a discrete set of materials. Periodical or journal research databases help researchers locate articles published in particular magazines and journals.  These databases can be general and broad in coverage like Academic Search Premier, or they can focus on specific subject areas like the Biological Abstracts. In the past periodical indexes usually pointed you to journal citations and sometimes to abstracts as well.   A Journal citation is the bibliographic description of an article.  It includes an article title, author name, journal title, volume and issue number, publication date, and page numbers referenced.  Citations identify articles and provide information to use in finding the text of the article. An abstract is a statement summarizing the important points of a text.  Abstracts often accompany citations, providing descriptive information helpful in evaluating the article. With the advent of computer technology, it has become easy to attach or link the text or full text of articles directly to their citations.  Some research databases now include a great deal of full text from the periodicals they cover. So research databases may provide: - citations to articles. - citations and abstracts to articles. - citations, abstracts, and/or the  text of articles. 4. Recognizing and Reading Journal Citations Citations can identify more than journals.  Citations can represent books, movies, web sites, or any format of material. The ability to distinguish a book citation from a journal citation, for example, is an important skill for a researcher.   Knowing what format a citation refers to indicates to the researcher what steps need to be taken to locate or gain access to the material cited. Also, it's important to realize that different citation standards exist.  Always make sure to ask your instructor what documentation style you are required to use.  Two common styles are: - MLA by the Modern Language Association. - APA by the American Psychological Association. MLA documentation style will be used in examples throughout the Hands-On web site. Below are two citations, first for a book and second for a journal article.  What characteristics of the journal citation stand out? Book Citation     Sugden, John.  Tecumseh: A Life. New York: Henry Holt and           Co., 1997 Journal Article Citation     Pettingell, Phoebe.  "Poetry Read in Canoes." New Leader           82.1 (1999): 13-14. Two big differences are apparent.  The journal article citation has 2 titles (one in quotation marks and one underlined), and it also has a series of numbers at the end that the book citation does not. Two Titles The first title is the title of the article.  The second title is the title of the journal the article was published in.   Series of Numbers The numbers at the end of the journal article citation indicate a number of things.  In our example: 82 = the volume number for the journal .1 = the issue number of that volume (1999) = the year of publication 13-14 = the pages from the journal that the article appeared on Reading Journal Citations -- Exercises The presence of these two elements together will usually indicate that a citation is for a journal article. E1. Examine the citation below.  Is it for an article or not?     Moore, Leonard N.  Carl B. Stokes and the Rise of           Black Political Power. Urbana, IL: University of           Illinois Press, 2002. E2. Examine the citation below.  Is it for an article or not?     Cohen, Warren. "Trading Music? You're Busted." Rolling                      Stone 920 (2003): 21-22. E3. Examine the citation below.  Is it for an article or not?     Holt, Pat M. "Death Penalty: How Foolproof is our           Justice?" Christian Science Monitor 95.69 (2003):           11. Answers located at end of lesson. 5. Identifying Scholarly Journals Often professors will instruct students to restrict their research to scholarly journals. But what are scholarly journals?   It is important to know and be able to identify scholarly journals because you will likely be asked to use scholarly journals during the course of your education. Identifying Scholarly Journals Both scholarly and popular journals are important and have roles, but, as we mentioned earlier, scholarly journals and information will be the focus of your college education. The presence of two or more of the following characteristics usually indicates that a journal is scholarly: - The publication is peer-reviewed. - The publisher is a society or university. - The author is a professor or has a PhD. - The publication reports research. - A list of works cited appears at the end of articles. - Articles have several authors.      Identifying Scholarly Journals Many scholarly journals are peer-reviewed or refereed.  This means that an editorial board of fellow experts and scholars reviews articles submitted for publication.  Articles not approved by a majority are rejected.  This increases the authority and accuracy of the information appearing in scholarly journals. Identifying Peer-reviewed Journals Peer-reviewed journals can be identified by reading their editorial statements or their information for authors (usually appearing at the beginning or end of the publication) or also by looking up the journal's entry in Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory. What's Not Scholarly The following formats and characteristics usually indicate that a publication is NOT scholarly: - Newspapers. - Popular magazines ( ex. People). - Very brief articles. - Articles lack a list of works cited. - Authors work for the publication as journalists. - Many advertisements are present. - Heavily illustrated (especially with color). - Publication is available at the newsstand. Exercise -- Identifying Scholarly Journals? E4. Review the following citation and notes.  Is the publication likely scholarly or popular?   Lawrence, Steve and C. Lee Giles. "Accessibility of      Information on the Web." Nature 400.6740 (1999): 107-    109. Notes:  A works cited list appears at the end of the article.  The authors worked for the NEC Research Institute.   E5. Review the following citation and notes.  Is the publication in question a scholarly journal? Thomas, Evan.  "Women, Wine and Weapons. Newsweek    141.2 (2003): 24-30. Notes:  Author is a journalist.  No works cited list is present.  12 photos illustrate the article. E6. Review the following citation and notes.  Is the publication in question a scholarly journal? Robertson, Sheilah A. and Stacy E. Andrew. "Presence of Opoid      Growth Factor and Its Receptor in the Normal Dog, Cat and      Horse Cornea." Veterinary Ophthalmology 6.2 (2003): 131-     134. Notes:  Authors performed research at M.S. Hershey Medical Center of the Pennsylvania State University.  Article includes notes and list of references. This concludes "An Introduction to Periodical Literature" Answers located at end of lesson. Exercise answers: E1=not an article, E2=yes, an article, E3=yes, an article E4=Yes, scholarly, E5=No, not scholarly, E6=Yes, scholarly.