When You Search For And Review Preexisting Literature For Yo
When You Search For And Review Preexisting Literature For Your Researc
When you search for and review preexisting literature for your Research Methods project, try to use scholarly articles (if that is possible). You may discover information from many sources, to include the following: 1. Scholarly Journals 2. Professional Journals 3. Entertainment Magazines (inappropriate for use in a Research Methods project) 4. Government Websites What is the difference in the above 4 listed sources? The differences are explained below: 1. Scholarly Journals Scholarly journals have academic articles in them. They are also called “periodicals” in the library. They are written by researchers in specific areas of study, such as in criminal justice, business, the medical field, etc. To achieve recognition as being scholarly, an article is first submitted to other peer researchers (who are usually in the same academic discipline) to be “peer reviewed,” critiqued and evaluated. Peer reviewers determine if the article should be published in a scholarly journal. This review process helps to ensure that only high-quality research articles are published in scholarly journals. Key: Authors of scholarly articles must cite the sources that they use in their paper. 2. Professional Journals or Trade Journals Professional journals are also known as trade journals. They are written by subject matter experts for people who work in a specific trade. For example, there are professional journals for criminal justice in specialized areas such as forensics, school resource officers, fraud investigations, corrections, parole operations, etc. Trade journals require an author to have background knowledge about their profession. The articles that they write are not necessarily scholarly. Trade journals are somewhere “between scholarly journals and magazines.” Professional articles address specific workplace issues by providing insightful solutions. Keys: Professional articles are written by subject matter experts who provide innovative solutions and ideas for overcoming workplace issues. They are not required to cite sources because authors are subject matter experts. 3. Entertainment Magazines What kind of articles should I use in my research project? Journalists write interesting articles for magazines, either for entertainment or to provide information – or for both. Journalists may or may not have subject matter expertise about the topic they are writing about. They present information to a large audience, to the public, and to laypeople, professionals, retirees, students, and anyone else who will pay for the magazine. Generally, entertainment magazines are not appropriate for academic research, although there may be occasional exceptions. Examples of entertainment magazines include: Entertainment Weekly, Daily Mail, Star Magazine, People Magazine, etc. Keys: Entertainment magazines are not required to provide references at the end of each article. 4. Government Websites City, county, state, and federal government websites may publish criminal justice data that is relevant to your research methods project, such as crime statistics, recidivism rates, incarceration rates, juvenile crime rates, case studies, legal or legislative updates, etc. Keys: The usefulness of government websites varies greatly.
Paper For Above instruction
When conducting a literature review for a research project, especially within healthcare or criminal justice, the selection of credible sources is paramount to ensure the integrity and reliability of the findings. The types of sources available vary significantly in their purpose, credibility, depth, and suitability for academic research. Understanding these differences guides researchers in choosing appropriate references that will substantiate their work effectively.
Scholarly journals are considered the gold standard for academic research. These journals contain peer-reviewed articles authored by experts and researchers in specific fields such as medicine, criminal justice, or business. The peer-review process involves rigorous evaluation by other specialists, which ensures the research's validity, accuracy, and contribution to the discipline. For example, a peer-reviewed article on the effects of a new criminal justice policy would present original research, methodology, and critical analysis, backed by citations from previous studies. This process upholds high scholarly standards, making articles from these journals highly credible and suitable for supporting an academic research project (Booth, Sutton, &Papaioannou, 2016). Furthermore, scholarly articles require citing their sources, providing transparency and enabling further investigation by readers.
In contrast, professional or trade journals target practitioners and professionals within specific industries. These journals feature articles written by subject matter experts with practical experience, addressing real-world issues and offering innovative solutions. For example, a trade journal on law enforcement might discuss best practices for evidence collection or new technologies in crime scene investigation. Unlike scholarly journals, trade articles generally do not undergo peer review, and source citation may not be mandatory. This lower level of scrutiny means that while these articles are valuable for understanding current practices and trends, they might lack the thorough validation that scholarly articles undergo, reducing their appropriateness for high-level academic research (Holloway & Wheeler, 2013). However, they are useful for contextual background or understanding contemporary professional challenges.
Entertainment magazines serve a different purpose altogether. They aim to entertain or inform a broad public audience, often emphasizing celebrity culture, sensational stories, or popular topics. Writers may not possess subject matter expertise, and articles frequently lack rigorous references or citations. Examples include magazines like People or Star Magazine. While such sources may be engaging for general knowledge or understanding popular perceptions, they are unsuitable for scholarly research because their information tends to be anecdotal, unverified, or biased (Mackey & Gass, 2015). Occasionally, entertainment sources may provide some context or cultural insights, but they should not be relied upon to support academic arguments or factual claims.
Finally, government websites are valuable repositories of official data, legal statutes, policy updates, and statistical information relevant to criminal justice and healthcare research. These sources are credible because they originate from authoritative bodies such as the FBI, CDC, or state health departments. For example, government reports on crime rates or health statistics are frequently used in research to provide empirical evidence. However, the reliability and neutrality of government sources can vary depending on the agency, and researchers should evaluate the data's timeliness, completeness, and objectivity (Lawn & Clark, 2002). Proper citation of government data enhances transparency and lends authority to research findings, making these sources indispensable in evidence-based projects.
In conclusion, selecting appropriate sources for a literature review depends on understanding the differences among scholarly, professional, entertainment, and government sources. Scholarly journals are preferred for their peer-reviewed, rigorous content; professional journals provide practical insights; entertainment magazines offer popular perspectives but lack academic rigor; and government websites supply credible factual data. Combining these sources thoughtfully enables comprehensive, credible, and contextually rich research that advances scholarly and practical understanding of the topic.
References
- Booth, A., Sutton, A., & Papaioannou, D. (2016). Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. Sage.
- Holloway, I., & Wheeler, S. (2013). Qualitative research in healthcare. John Wiley & Sons.
- Lawn, S., & Clark, J. (2002). Evidence-based nursing: A guide to critical thinking. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Mackey, A., & Gass, S. M. (2015). Second language research: Methodology and design. Routledge.
- Booth et al., 2016
- Holloway & Wheeler, 2013
- Lawn & Clark, 2002
- Mackey & Gass, 2015
- Additional scholarly references relevant to your specific research topic can be added accordingly.