Once you've selected a topic, create a list of words and phrases that describe the concept. Then create a list of synonyms and similar phrases that might also be used to describe the concept. If your topic is "the effects of online courses on academic performance in higher education," you might identify the following initial terms:
After identifying synonyms and similar terms, the list might look like this:
For help identifying additional synonyms and similar phrases, check these sources:
In the process of gathering research materials, you will probably locate resources in various formats, including books, articles, and websites. Not everything you find, however, will be suitable or trustworthy. It's natural to experience information overload. Today we're bombarded with so much information, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
Remember that it's important to evaluate your sources by considering the following factors:
A scholarly (or academic) resource is one that is written by experts in the field for experts in the field. A popular resource is one that is written for the general public. Your local newspaper is a popular resource.
| Scholarly Journals | Popular Magazines |
|---|---|
|
Publication has a narrow scope or is limited to a specific field or sub-field of study; goal is to promote and disseminate scholarly research |
Publication is designed for a broad, general audience; primary goal is to make a profit |
|
Intended for academic or specialized audiences such as professors, researchers, students |
Does not require expertise in the field to understand the information; designed for the general population |
|
Has tables and graphics |
Has pictures and media included |
|
Has references, bibliographies, notes and/or works cited included |
May have verified facts, but does not include references or bibliographies |
|
Has little or no advertising; included advertising promotes books, journals, conferences |
Has advertising |
|
Has an author and author affiliations; authors are experts in their respective field |
May or may not have an author listed; authors are generalists, journalists, or freelance writers |
|
Published by a scholarly press or professional organization |
Published by a for-profit entity |
|
Editorial board of scholars in the field who review articles prior to publication in a process known as refereed or peer-review |
Editor is a journalist who works for the publisher |
Databases usually have some mechanism to search for only scholarly, or peer reviewed, articles. Look for a check box on the search screen which will allow you to limit search results to only scholarly journals if your professor requires a scholarly article.
Peer-reviewed journals are also called “refereed” or “juried” journals. They are sometimes called "scholarly" or "academic" journals. The peer review process means that a manuscript is reviewed by others in the same field. These individuals (peers) read and review the manuscript, offering their comments and judgement as to its value. The process is intended to enhance the quality of the publications.
Peer-reviewed journals have characteristics that distinguish them from popular magazines. There is not always a clear-cut distinction between popular magazines and journals, however; some publications have qualities of both. Following is a comparison of peer-reviewed journals and popular magazines.
Two common types of sources that you will find in the library's holdings are books and journals. There are some differences that you will want to keep in mind as you look for and use these sources.
Academic books can be somewhat different from typical books that you find in a bookstore. The academic library will have some familiar types of books such as novels or books on historical events. Many books in the academic library will not be written for a general audience, so you may find it harder to understand all of the concepts being discussed. A good subject encyclopedia may help you get up to speed. Academic books may also collect articles (sometimes reprints) and proceedings of academic conferences.
The advantage of an academic book is that it will often give you a good overview of the topic. Remember to check the publication date of the book. If it is several years old, it is likely that there have been more recent findings on the subject. You probably won't have to read the book cover-to-cover, so don't worry about the page count. Use the Table of Contents and Index to find chapters and sections of the book that may be helpful. Skim the first page of chapters to see if it is worth deeper reading. Finally, check the Bibliography for more books and articles on the topic.
Academic journals publish articles by academics for academics. If you are new to reading academic works, this may be a challenge because the article will likely use jargon and discuss complex issues without providing much context for the reader. Again, a good subject encyclopedia and dictionary can be useful here. Academic articles usually focus on one issue or study. The article is likely part of a larger discussion that continues in other articles. That means that it is a good idea to try and find the most recent articles on the topic and then use the Bibliography and Literature Review in the article to find earlier writings on the topic.