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Nursing

Research assistance for nursing students.

Types of Information Sources

When scholars or researchers want to publish their research and findings in a journal, they submit their work to what is called a peer-review process. Their article is sent to other scholars in the same field who analyze it and make sure it is of high quality, relevant, valid, and not just one person's opinion. They then send it back for revisions or approve it for publication. Journal articles may also be called as scholarly articles, peer-reviewed articles, or academic articles.

Why Use a Journal

Characteristics of a Journal

  • Provides scholarly information based on research
  • Information focuses on a narrow and specific area of a topic to provide new research and analysis
  • Information is reviewed by experts to help ensure accuracy
  • Written by experts, scholars, professionals in subject field
  • Adds to a growing understanding of a topic by contributing new ideas
  • Academic or scientific research articles and information
  • Written for scholars and professionals in subject field
  • Longer articles, often including tables, graphs, charts
  • Technical, specialized terminology
  • Documented research with footnotes and bibliographies
  • Reviewed by a panel of peers
  • Published by an association, academic institution, or professional organization

Examples

  • American Journal of Nursing
  • Critical Care Nurse
  • Critical Care Research and Practice
  • Journal for Nurse Practitioners
  • Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing
  • Nursing made incredibly easy!

Magazines publish information about a topic about a week after an event occurs and in most cases do not provide in-depth research. The focus of magazines are usually on general topics and topics of interest to specific groups such as music, sports, exercise, fashion, or home decorating fans. They are generally published weekly or monthly, but could be published semi-monthly or several times a year. 

Why Use a Magazine

Characteristics of a Magazine

  • Provides recent information on a topic
  • Provides information on popular culture
  • Written for a general audience
  • Shorter articles
  • Conversational language
  • Reviewed by an editor
  • Written by staff writers or freelance journalists
  • Published by commercial organizations
  • Typically do not have a list of citations
  • Appearing is eye-catching with a lot of images and advertisements

Examples

  • Nursing Times
  • Arthritis Today
  • Harvard Heart Letter
  • Today's Health

Newspapers report on a topic generally the day after an event occurs. They are generally published daily, but can be published weekly or bi-weekly. They can also focus nationally or locally, including to a particular state or city.  

Why Use a Newspaper

Characteristics of a Newspaper

  • Provides recent information on current events and interests
  • Provides opinions pieces in editorials
  • Written for a general audience
  • Shorter articles
  • Conversational language
  • Reviewed by an editor
  • Written by newspaper staff writers or sometimes wire service writers such as writers from Reuters or the Associated Press
  • Published by commercial organizations
  • Typically do not have a list of citations
  • Includes images and advertisements

Examples

  • New York Times
  • Wall Street Journal
  • Arizona Republic

Trade publications publishes information that is of interest to members of a particular profession or industry such as educators, lawyers, welders, law enforcement, etc. They generally cover recent developments in the field or summarize latest research findings in the field. Trade publications are sometimes referred to as trade journals. 

Why Use a Trade Publication

Characteristics of a Trade Publication

  • Latest trends and techniques in a profession
  • Latest research findings in a profession
  • Shared peer insights and experiences in a profession
  • Written for those who work or are interested in a field
  • Might include a brief list of references
  • Might include advertisement geared towards those in the field
  • Written by practitioners or members of professional organizations in the field
  • Published by a trade association
  • Include industry jargon

Examples

  • Nursing Standard
  • National Nurse
  • Variety
  • Advertising Age

Books are great information resources but are not good if you need the latest information on a topic. It takes about a year (or longer) for a book to get published, so by the time you have the book in your hand, the information in that book is at least a year out of date. 

Reference books

Books

Reference books are helpful for:

  • Helping you refine your topic
  • Getting an overview of a subject
  • Getting background information
  • Learning the vocabulary of that subject
  • Identifying key thinkers in that discipline.
  • Getting facts and statistics
  • Learning definitions
  • Examples: Encyclopedias and dictionaries

Books are helpful for: 

  • Getting stable information on a topic that does not change frequently
  • Receiving a broad look at a subject
  • Learning about the historical perspective on an event
  • Providing a literary analysis of a work

Here are a few samples of print books available.