Scholarly vs. Popular
Databases
Frederic Murray
Assistant Professor
MLIS, University of British Columbia
BA, Political Science, University of Iowa
Instructional Services Librarian
Al 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 Periodicals
POPULAR MAGAZINES
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
•
•
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
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 Sources
General
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