Using them in college & professional life

Stella Baker, Librarian ▬ College of the Desert LibraryHealth Sciences & Education Liaison

Fall 2013

MagazinesAudience usually the general public or subject „hobbyist‟

JournalsAudience is subject professionals, academics & researchers

Magazines• Article authors generally professional writers, not topic specialists

• Motivation of author is primarily a paycheck

• Motivation of publisher is to sell magazines to everyone

• Articles accepted by publisher w/focus on sales (to anyone)

Journals• Article authors generally professionals in the subject

• Motivation of author is to publish (i.e. professional reasons)

• Motivation of publisher is to sell to profession/libraries/etc.

• Articles are accepted by publisher, often via a peer review process, w/focus on selling to professionals interested in subject body of knowledge

Advantages of magazines• Usually fast, easy reads that are often entertaining• Can be a „place to start‟ when nothing is known about the topic• Sometimes, but not often, only place your topic is covered.

Advantages of journals• Information is accurate/based on scientific/research principles• Higher level of confidence that using information from journal is an

academically and professionally wise thing to do

When it really matters

quality information beats

easy entertainment

But how can you tell the difference?

Babytalk Feb. 2012Maternal and Child Health Journal (2011) 15:1185-1194

“Story by”…

Names, academic credentials & contact information

Babytalk Feb. 2012Maternal and Child Health Journal (2011) 15:1185-1194

“A recent study found…” WHAT recent study? (It never said.)

“Recent studies have…” with footnotes to all cited studies, in addition to extreme detail about the study(ies) focused upon in the article.

footnotesDetail

Babytalk Feb. 2012Maternal and Child Health Journal (2011) 15:1185-1194

OK, but says who? (And why should I believe them?)

“Required Reading” is a book to buy at Amazon. Methinks they‟re trying to sell me something.

References

Some references are even links to cited source

Journals—college and professional tools—are characterized by:• Author expertise in subject (usually a professional)• Author education• Research• Cites sources• Publication not trying to sell you something (except an idea)• Can generally be regarded with higher level of confidence

But always bring your common sense to the party…

Research Study #8 by Michael E. Salla, PhD

Research Study #8 by Michael E. Salla, PhD

A research paper, by a PhD, in research format (Abstract, testimony, conclusion, endnotes.)

References w/citations. Even includes a thank you to university librarians for research assistance. (Aw...)

But…let‟s look more closely at

“Research Study #8”