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Characteristics of Sources

This LibGuide serves to support students' understanding of the characteristics of various sources used in the research process.

Trade Journals

Trade Journal: a periodical containing news and items of interest concerning a particular trade.

Trade journal database records indicate source type as a trade publication and what subject is covered by the publication.

An example of a trade journal is this publication which is intended for professional engineers.

Find Trade Journals in HCTC Databases listed below or visit the Library's Catalogs & Databases page for a full list of database options:

Scholarly Journals

Scholarly Journal: a periodical publication in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published.

A scholarly journal article's record will indicate the source type as academic as well as peer-reviewed.

An example of a scholarly journal is a journal devoted to medical research that is peer-reviewed.

Find Scholarly Journals in HCTC Databases listed below or visit the Library's Catalogs & Databases page for a full list of database options:​

Magazines

Magazine: a periodical publication containing articles and illustrations, typically covering a particular subject or area of interest.

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Wired is an example of a magazine. Magazines are generally cheaper to purchase than trade or scholarly journals meant for professional development and are intended for a wider audience.

Find Magazines in HCTC Databases listed below or visit the Library's Catalogs & Databases page for a full list of database options:

Newspapers

Newspaper: a printed publication (usually issued daily or weekly) consisting of folded unstapled sheets and containing news, feature articles, advertisements, and correspondence.

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The New York Times is an example of a newspaper. Newspapers deliver news to a wide audience and the articles are written by journalists rather than subject experts.

Find Newspapers in HCTC Databases listed below or visit the Library's Catalogs & Databases page for a full list of database options:

Books

Book: a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann, a prior staff writer for the New Yorker Magazine, is a popular non-fiction book about the birth of the FBI.

Books vary in credibility depending on the author, type of book (nonfiction, fiction, textbook, etc.).

Find eBooks in HCTC Databases listed below or visit our Online Catalog to find print books. Visit the Library's Catalogs & Databases page for a full list of database options:

Websites

Website: a location connected to the Internet that maintains one or more pages on the World Wide Web.

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WebMD is a popular consumer health website. Website credibility varies by author, partnerships, and affiliations.

Find Websites in HCTC Databases listed below or visit the Library's Catalogs & Databases page for a full list of database options: