Using Academic Information
Reflect
You look at your assessment task and the assessment criteria says that you must use at least five academic journal articles and one book in your essay.
What would you do?
Can you identify a journal article citation and a book citation?
When you find a journal article or a book, do you know how to tell if it is academic?
Learn
How can I tell the difference between a journal article citation and a book citation?
This short video will show you how to identify the elements of a journal article citation and a book citation.
Journals and journal articles
What does an academic journal article look like?
To determine whether a journal is academic look at the following features:
- Purpose: academic journal articles contain evidence of original research - look for a method section, results, charts or diagrams
- Author: look for the authors name(s) and their affiliation (i.e. University of …)
- Abstract: located at the beginning, an abstract includes the background, purpose and focus of the article
- Reference list: look for an extensive list of the references used at the end of the article
- Audience: an academic journal article is aimed at a specialised audience and uses technical language
- Credible: often refereed (or peer reviewed) by experts in the field
I have a journal article citation, how do I find the full text?
Use the Library search engine to search for the title (or some words from the article title) and author of journal article you need. Under 'Refine your search', limit 'Source Types' to 'Academic Journals'
Books and eBooks
What does an academic book look like?
To determine whether a book is academic look at the following features:
- Purpose: academic books usually consist of original research or an expert analysis on topics or issues.
- Publisher: a look at who published the book will give you an idea of whether it is academic or not.
- Date of publication: some topics require current information. Others value older material. Think about your topic, do you need information that is up to date, or timeless?
- Authority of the author: is the author an expert in this field? Where is the author affiliated? What else has he/she written?
- Audience: is the level of the book appropriate for your needs? You should be using publications that are aimed at academics and researchers.
I have the citation for a book or a book chapter, how can I find the book?
Use the Library search engine to search for the title and author (or some keywords from the title) of the book or eBook you're interested in. Under 'Refine your search', limit 'Source Types' to 'Books'.
Apply
Learn how to find a journal article title using the Library search engine - Guide on the Side
Learn how to find a book title using the Library search engine - Guide on the Side
Note: These activities will open in a new browser window, and are best completed on a laptop or desktop computer.