MMC2004 - Mass Media Communication - Cleveland

Different types of sources can be helpful for different parts of research. Use the arrows to click through and learn about each of the common types of sources used within academic research.

Books

• Broader and more in-depth look at topics.
• Great for understanding a topic overall, including the background, history, etc.
• Might take a few years to be published, so it will not have the most up-to-date information.
• Use the library catalog to locate books and eBooks available through the library collection.

Newspaper Articles

• Very timely, since they are published daily.
• More local information available.
• Usually brief, without a lot of depth or background.

Magazine Articles

• Usually timely, since magazines are published once or twice a month.
• Easy to read, usually aimed at a general audience.
• May focus on more popular topics.
• Usually more pictures and graphics.
• Shorter articles, usually only a few pages long.
• May not be as much nuance or scholarly information available.

Journal Articles

• May not be as timely because of the research and review process.
• Usually look at one area of a topic, with a specific focus.
• Usually cover original research or a review of prior research.
• Written at a higher level, usually with specialized terminology or vocabulary.
• Longer articles, usually 10-20 pages.
• Many are peer-reviewed (reviewed by other experts in the field prior to publishing).
• The library databases are the best place to look for journal articles.

Websites

• Vary widely in credibility and accuracy.
• Little to no oversight, so you need to evaluate carefully.
• Good for statistical information, if you look for government and agency websites.
• Use site:gov or site:edu to limit your Google searches to more credible sites.

Trade Publications

• Similar to magazines but more focused on a specific field or area
• Audience is practitioners in a field
• Publication schedules may vary from monthly to quarterly
• Information is typically timely and relevant to the field
• May be subscription only, or part of a professional membership, but some may be found through the library databases