Information Types

Get started finding different kinds of information for your research

Not all journals are the same!

Also called scholarly, academic, refereed.
Written by academics for an academic audience.
Peer review indicates that the articles submitted for publication in the journal has gone through a quality control process. It has been assessed by other academic experts in the field as sound and credible in terms of methodology, argument etc.
Usually available in electronic format but sometimes we provide hard copy access.
Electronic versions of the journal are usually available via library research databases and we may provide access to a journal through several databases.
Don't pay for articles you find on the Internet. If you are not sure how to access the library subscription ask a librarian.
Some journals are published in open access versions that are freely available on the Internet
In the pre internet days, journal titles were a clearly defined entity but these days journal titles are often subsumed into the research databases or websites.

Academic journals are one of the main ways of communicating academic research.
Useful to browse the latest editions of journals to keep up with the latest research in your academic field.

Not usually peer reviewed
Contains articles about new trends, best practices and products for a specific industry or profession.
Written by a professional or a journalist with experience in the field for a professional audience often published by a trade organisation.
Maybe a bit glossy with advertising.
May contain some references and citations.
Shorter articles and may use specialised terminology.
May contain interviews with academics about their research or reports of academic research.
Academics may write for these journals.

Timely coverage of current trends.
Can provide a good overview of a topic that will increase your understanding of practice in the profession and current issues facing practiitioners.
Can simplify complex research to help basic understanding.

Written for the general public with no expertise in the subject.
Contains articles about current events, popular culture, opinion, self help, advertising mainly for entertainment and the goal is to make money through sales and advertising. e.g. Psychology Today.
May contain information about research but second and third hand reports.
Written by staff writers. Free lancers credentials usually not mentioned.
Glossy, full colour with plenty of advertising.
No citations or references of sources.

It would be rare that you would need popular journals for research. But they may be useful for historical, socological or cultural research projects.

Only a very few available at Flinders Library.
May be some copies on Readings if you are studying a particular journal in class.
Mainly through other libraries (e.g. public libraries)/ Local access freely online
Some historical examples in Special Collections. e.g. Women's Weekly

Search all our guides.