When we think of "finding an article" we often think of newspapers or magazines. But there are several kinds of articles your assignments might require:
News - From newspapers reporting daily events (New York Times)
Magazine - Often called "popular" articles, these are general or for a specific interest (Time, Discover)
Trade - By and for specific industries (Advertising Age)
Scholarly - Reporting research, written by and for scholars and researchers (American Journal of Psychology)
See the chart at right for more information on how to tell if an article is scholarly or popular.
Fitchburg State subscribes to over a hundred different databases on subjects for every part of the curriculum. If you're not sure what database to use, ask a librarian. Here is a short list of some of the broader, multi-disciplinary databases available - a good place to start most searches.
Scholarly Articles | Popular Articles | |
Authorship | Scholars/experts in a field. Authors are always named and their institutional affiliation is given. | Staff writers or journalists. |
Publisher | University presses, professional associations, research organizations. | For profit corporations. |
Review | Peer review process by other experts in the field of study. | Fact-checker and/or editor. |
Audience | Researchers, scholars, other experts. | General public. |
Content/Length | Usually longer, focusing on a research study, or a review of research literature in a field. | Often shorter, with a more general focus. |
Language | Technical, discipline specific terminology. | Written for a general reader with easier vocabulary. |
Sources | Cited in a bibliography adhering to a specific citation style (MLA, APA, etc.) | Usually not cited, and when they are, are not generally standardized. |
Structure | Usually includes: abstract, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, and bibliography. | Specific formats are not followed. |
Advertising | Some. | Copious. |
Scholarly Journal | Popular Magazine |