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Evaluating Sources: Scholarly Journal, Trade Pub. & Popular Magazines

Find out who is providing the content and why. Get information from different sources. Be skeptical.

Library Jargon

Databases - collection of articles, images, chapters, books, films, etc.   We pay subscriptions for access to databases that give you more control with options to filter your search.

Scholarly: Articles with data, variables, and controls.
Peer reviewed: Evaluated and green-lighted by other experts (peers) in that field before they are published.

Trade Journals: Opinions: Best practices and advice. These are not peer-reviewed until after they are published.

Popular Magazines: For casual reading pleasure, not for serious decisions.
(Writers may explain, summarize, simplify, distort, or misunderstand research.)  

Hint:
Get information from more than one author, lab, or institution.

Multiple viewpoints will increase the usefulness of your conclusions and reduce confirmation bias errors.

Formats Defined in Ebsco Discovery Service (EDS)

Academic Journal
Audio
Audiobooks
Biographies
Books
Conference Materials
Dissertations/Theses
eBooks
Electronic Resources
Magazines
Maps
Music Scores
News
Non-Print Resources
Patents
Primary Source Documents
Reports
Reviews
Trade Publications
Videos

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