Also called academic journals or scientific journals
A journal is a collection of articles written by scholars in an academic or professional field.
Some journals are peer-reviewed or refereed, which means a panel of scholars reviews articles to decide if they should be accepted.
Features of journals
- written by scholars and subject experts
- written for other scholars
- dedicated to a specific discipline, like medicine, history, women's studies, etc.
- often have original research
- long articles, often 5-15 pages or more
- articles almost always include a list of sources at the end (Works Cited, References, Sources, or Bibliography)
- color photographs are an exception
- no or very few advertisements
- published by organizations or associations to advance the body of knowledge
Like magazines and newspapers, journals are called "periodicals" because they are published at regular intervals.
Use a Journal
- when doing scholarly research
- to find primary research
- to find out what has been studied on your topic
- to find factual, documented information
- to find bibliographies that point you to other relevant research
Best Tools for Finding Journal Articles
- Online periodical indexes/databases, available on your library's web site
- Google Scholar
Examples of Journals
- Journal of the History of Ideas
- JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association
- Journal of Women's History