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HLTH 235: Food Systems

Journal Articles

Journal articles are important sources for your research as they contain the most-up-to-date research in a given field and often focus on a particular aspect of a topic. 

To locate articles on your topic, use Omni or use a subject index or a database such as the ones recommended on this guide. 

Types of Journals

Scholarly journals are also referred to as "academic," "peer-reviewed," or "refereed" journals. 

One-way researchers try to ensure the legitimacy of their work is to have it peer reviewed prior to publication. 

  • Peer review is the evaluation of scientific or academic work by others working in the same field. 
  • A peer-reviewed or refereed journal is one in which manuscripts submitted by authors are reviewed by experts on the topic before being accepted for publication in the journal. 

Academic Journals

  • Have articles that are written by a scholars or experts in the field. 
  • Have articles that use the terminology and language of the subject covered. 
  • Have articles that are footnoted and/or have a bibliography.
  • Tend to have words like journal, studies, review, annual, or quarterly in the title. For example: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development.
  • May have a university name or an academic society in the title. For example: Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law or Journal of the Canadian Historical Association.

If you are unsure whether the publication is academic or peer-reviewed:  search the web for the journal's homepage and look at the Editorial or Submissions policy and use Ulrich's Periodicals Directory to find out more about the publication.

What is not Scholarly?

Popular magazines or newspapers can be good sources for research projects. However, they are not considered scholarly journals!

In order to Identify a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal article, check the library guide Distinguishing Scholarly from Non Scholarly Periodicals to learn how to identify the difference between them.