Before you get started with your research, do you understand the kind of resources that you will be looking for and the tools you will using to find them? Below, you'll find some of the key terms explained.
- Journal article: Journal articles report on specific research or studies, focusing on current developments in a particular field. More so than books, they are where to turn if you wish to discover the recent thinking for a specific discipline.
- Journal: Journal articles are published in journals, essentially magazines, but for an academic audience. A journal will be published multiple times per year and is organised by volume (and sometimes issue).
- Peer reviewed or scholarly journals: Prior to being published, a peer-reviewed or scholarly journal article must go through a quality control process. Assessed, either by a panel of experts or an editor who is considered an expert in the field, the article is reviewed and approved for publication. Peer reviewed or scholarly journals are considered highly credible sources because of this process.
- Databases: Databases are online indexes which provide access to books and journal articles, as well as newspaper articles, theses and a lot more. Some of the largest databases, such as ProQuest and ScienceDirect are multidisciplinary, which means they cover a range of subject areas. Others, like Business Source Complete, are much more specific focusing on a particular discipline. You'll find a full list on the Databases page.
- Library catalogue: The library catalogue is a search tool that contains the library's physical collection (all the physical books, videos and other items that you can find in the library), as well as links through to the online resources (journal articles, eBooks and more) which are held in the databases.
