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RESEARCH TUTORIAL CONTENTS
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Before learning how to find periodicals, some background
about periodicals. . .
What are Periodicals?
Periodicals include magazines, newspapers and journals -- publications
that are produced periodically. In addition to the word periodicals,
you may encounter the name "serials," which means items
that are published serially. In the NSCC library, periodicals are
available in a variety of formats, including:
- Paper or "hard copy"
- Microform -- this includes microfilm and microfiche
- Online, through the library's periodical databases.
Types of Periodicals
There are three main types of periodicals -- scholarly, trade
and popular. The chart below outlines the main characteristics of
each. To download a Word version of the chart click here.
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SCHOLARLY
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TRADE
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POPULAR
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AUTHORS
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Scholars (highly educated, devotes
professional life to the field), authors are easily identifiable,
credentials are given
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Practitioners in a particular field,
authors are easily identifiable, credentials are sometimes
given
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Journalists or staff writers
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AUDIENCE
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Other scholars
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Other practitioners in the field
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General public
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LANGUAGE
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Uses jargon (terminology only those
in the field would understand)
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Uses jargon (terminology only those
in the field would understand)
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Easily understood by general readers
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ARTICLE STRUCTURE
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Often highly structured with abstract
(summary), intro, research methodology, conclusion
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No formal structure
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No formal structure
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ADVERTISING
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Few photographs or advertisements
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Advertisements are for products
and services that pertain to the field
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Many advertisements
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OVERALL APPEARANCE
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Longer articles; may include charts,
graphs and equations
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Shorter articles; includes photographs
and illustrations
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Shorter articles, glossy pages,
many photographs
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ACCEPTANCE & EDITING
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Uses a “peer-review” or “referee”
process, in which articles are reviewed by other experts in
the field
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Editors decide what articles are
published
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Editors decide what articles are
published
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PURPOSE
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Inform and present research
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Inform practitioners in the fields
of news, events, issues
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Inform and entertain general public;
generate revenues through selling ads.
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SAMPLE PERIODICALS
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To download a Word version of the chart click here.
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