Scholarly vs. PopularDatabases

Frederic MurrayAssistant Professor MLIS, University of British ColumbiaBA, Political Science, University of Iowa

Instructional Services LibrarianAl Harris Library frederic.murray@swosu.edu

Review• Keyword vs. Subject• Boolean• Limiters

Boolean Operators• Connect keywords only• Must be placed between keywords• AND

– Narrows your search• OR

– Expands your search with synonymous terms

• NOT– Excludes words from your search– If used too much, it can work against you!

Class Activity

What’s the Difference?

Periodicals• MAGAZINES

– Popular Info– Audience:

• General Public• Casual Reader

– Purpose:• Hobby• Pleasure• Curiosity

• JOURNALS– Scholarly Info– Audience:

• Researcher• Professional Who

Needs to Stay Up-to-Date

– Purpose:• Goal-Driven

– Research Paper– Certification,

Tenure– Job Requirement

Difference Between Scholarly and Popular PeriodicalsPOPULAR MAGAZINES

• USUALLY SOMEWHAT SLICK AND ATTRACTIVE IN APPEARANCE

• RARELY CITE SOURCES. INFO. IS USUALLY SECONDARY, REPORTED FROM SOURCE

• ARTICLES SHORT, WRITTEN IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE AND FOR A MINIMAL EDUCATION LEVEL

• USUALLY LOT OF ADVERTISING AND PICTURES

• PAGINATION RESTARTS IN EVERY ISSUE

SCHOLARLY JOURNALS• HAVE A SOBER, SERIOUS LOOK

• ALWAYS CITE THEIR SOURCES IN FOOTNOTES/BIBLIOGRAPHIES

• ARTICLES WRITTEN BY A SCHOLAR OR RESEARCHER “HORSE’S MOUTH”

• PEER-REVIEWED BY SCHOLARS

• LANGUAGE OF JOURNAL ASSUMES SOME SCHOLARLY BACKGROUND ON THE PART OF READER

• ADVERTISING IS SPECIALIZED TO THAT DISCIPLINE

• PAGINATION IS CUMULATIVE

Peer Reviewed

Reading Scholarly Articles• Title: Communicates the central

topic• Abstract: Summarizes the text • Section headings: Serves as a

title for a specific part of an article• Conclusion: Recaps on what was

said and expands on its significance

Main Argument• After examining the title, abstract,

section headings, and conclusion, identifying the main argument or idea of the text will help you read it effectively and efficiently

• Try stating the main point in your own words (single sentence) in order to understand the text

Databases• A large, regularly updated file of

digitized information related to a specific subject or field.

• This is where we find Journal Articles

• This is where most of your research will take place

Searching in Databases• Keywords with Boolean • Subject terms from thesaurus• Limiters: date, peer reviewed,

geography, and full text

Databases for ENG 1213 • Academic Search Complete

• CQ Researcher

• Issues & Controversies

• JSTOR

Article SourcesGeneral Article and subject databases

Article Databases

JSTOR• JSTOR is a full-text scholarly

journal archive. JSTOR specializes in making available the back issues of journals in a wide variety of humanities and social science disciplines.

JSTOR• Limit by Language – English

• Limit by Publication Type – Journal Article

• Narrow by discipline – History

Exercise• Academic Search Complete

Worksheet

• Topic: Science

Research Exercise• Find an article (peer-reviewed/ full

text) dealing with video games, violence and alienation.

• Find an article dealing with fishing treaties involving countries from the pacific rim (peer-reviewed/ full text) published in the 1980s and focused on international law.

Research Exercise• Examine the title, abstract,

section headings, and conclusion, & identify the main argument

• State the main point in your own words (single sentence)

Questions?

• Contact me:– Frederic Murray

• 774-7113• frederic.murray@swosu.edu

Thank You