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EDU 620: Data-Driven Decisions: Is it a research article?

Is it a research article?

Examine the article and the journal it is published in and be sure that it meets the following criteria:

  • Where did you find it?
    • Did you find a citation for it in a subject-oriented index? (e.g. PsycLit, ERIC, Physical Education Index)
  • How are articles chosen for the publication?
    • Is the journal published or sponsored by a professional scholarly society or association?
    • Is there a list of reviewers (editorial board) inside the front cover of the journal on the first few pages? (This type of journal is known as a "juried" or "refereed" journal.")
  • What are the general characteristics of a scholarly journal article?
    • Is the article organized into at least two of the following sections:
      • Introduction or Literature Review
      • Theory or Background
      • Subjects
      • Methods
      • Results
      • Discussion
    • Does the article have a bibliography or list of references?
    • Does the title of the article reflect its content?
    • Is there an abstract at the beginning of the article?
    • Are the author's credentials listed?
    • Is the article based on either original research or authorities in the field (as opposed to personal opinion)?
    • Are there supporting diagrams or illustrations with the article?

(Information obtained from http://www.jsu.edu/library/information/scholarly.html)

Or is it a trade journal?

Trade journals are another type of publication that can be confused with scholarly journals. Although they are called journals, trade journals are actually very similar to popular magazines. Most trade journals feature short articles with news, opinion, or analysis of topics relevant to people who work in a particular industry. Individual articles usually have the same characteristics of authorship, format, language, illustrations, and sources that were listed for popular magazines in the previous table.” – from http://www.uhd.edu/library/guides/journals.html

If you are having trouble finding a scholarly article on your topic...

...Be sure to try searching ERIC! This index contains a vast array of citations for education articles, and even if we do not subscribe to the journal at Aquinas, you always have the option of requesting the article through Interlibrary Loan!

Examples of scholarly research journals


Research in the Teaching of English


The Elementary School Journal

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Childhood Education 
 

Examples of Trade Journals

Voices from the Middle (digital)


Educational Leadership


Learning and Leading with Technology

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

Momentum 

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