Background Information |
Books / Book Chapters |
Scholarly Articles |
Popular Articles |
Trade Articles |
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Reference sources, like dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, etc. provide you with background information on a topic, such as descriptions, definitions, and histories. Besides general encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia and World Book Encyclopedia, and general reference databases, such as Gale Virtual Reference Library, there are also specialized encyclopedias and reference databases that focus on particular subjects or disciplines. Examples
MedlinePlus is a high-quality, free online consumer health reference source.
Part of a series, find this reference book in the library on the 2nd floor at 363.19 SMI. Most of the library's reference books don't check out; these will start with REF in the book's location details. They are housed on the 1st floor. |
Like reference sources, books can help you get a broader understanding of a topic. They can also provide context for the specific studies you will come across in article databases. Scholarly books are published by university presses, such as UC Press, NWU Press, etc., but there are other publishers that also publish scholarly books. If the book has citations within the text / footnotes and a bibliography at the end of a chapter or the back of the book, it's generally scholarly. You also don't need to use an entire book; you can use chapters, too. Example
While we don't have this specific book in the library, it's an example of a scholarly book. You can request it through Interlibrary Loan. |
Scholarly articles are written by experts in the field and usually reviewed by other experts in a process known as peer review before they are published in journals, publications focused on a particular subject or professional activity. The purpose of scholarly articles is to share research findings. Example
The journal Maternal & Child Nutrition "addresses fundamental aspects of nutrition and its outcomes in women and their children, both in early and later life, and keeps its audience fully informed about new initiatives, the latest research findings and innovative ways of responding to changes in public attitudes and policy." This journal is moving to open-access in 2020. This means that it will be free for consumers to read. Many journals often require a paid subscription. |
Popular articles include magazine and news articles. They are written by journalists, staff writers, or freelance writers for general audiences. They are often written to entertain as well as to inform. Sources may be mentioned but may not be cited formally. Example
The library subscribes to the print version of Parents. Find it on the 2nd floor in the Periodicals - Magazines and Newspapers sections. |
Trade magazine / journal articles are written by specialists working in the field for other practioners. They are written to to offer practical information, news, etc. Sources may be mentioned but may not be cited formally. Example
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