Journal titles are periodic publications released in issues that contain articles from different authors.
In academic libraries the term journals refers to all titles published on a regular basis such as consumer magazines, newspapers, trade publications and scholarly journals.
At BCU Library, you will find print journals held at each library and electronic journals or e-articles you can access through Library Search.
Recognising a journal article's reference
Whether you are researching articles on a topic or you want to access an article from a citation, you should be able to identify a journal article's reference.
Look for these patterns to identify a journal article in a Harvard style reference:
- Many journals titles start with "Journal of" while others use a term referring to the topic they cover. (i.e. "Nature").
- The reference includes a volume and/or issue number.
- The article title comes after the date and before the journal's title in italic.
The format for journal articles reference in BCU Harvard style goes like this:
- Authorship
- (Year)
- Article title.
- Journal Title,
- Volume(Issue),
- pp. pages.
- DOI.
In the following example, the title of the article is "Enhancing thinking skills in early childhood":
Aubrey, C., Ghent, K. and Kanira, E. (2012) Enhancing thinking skills in early childhood. International Journal of Early Years Education, 20(4), pp. 332-348. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2012.743102.
There are different ways to reference journal articles and multiple referencing styles. Consult the referencing guide to learn more.
The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) registration authority can assign a long lasting unique reference to anything, including web pages.
This unique number ensures links to academic journal articles are authentic and point to their true origin.
Example: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2012.743102
If the article requires a fee to read, you should try to locate it in BCU Library Search to see if it is included in the library collections.
Which type of journal for my research?
The Library subscribes to many periodic (daily, weekly, monthly, etc…) and serial publications related to the subjects taught at BCU.
In academic libraries the term journal refers to all titles published on a regular basis such as consumer magazines, newspapers, trade publications and scholarly journals.
The term serial refers to all material published under the same title in parts, usually numbered (or dated) and appearing at regular or irregular intervals to continue indefinitely. Serials include yearbooks, directories and all periodicals.
When researching, you may use different types of journals depending on the field they cover:
- Newspapers contain news and opinion.
- Consumer magazines focus on popular topics.
- Trade journals focus on a specific industry.
- Scholarly journals publish academic research papers.
To find journal titles relevant to your topic, consult the subject guides and reading lists curated by your lecturers and librarians.
Scholarly journals
Scholarly journals report on findings written by researchers in the form of articles.
News and research around your subject area are usually published first in journals.
A journal can be useful to find:
-
Up-to-date information
-
What has been researched on your topic
-
Information that points to other relevant research
In Library Search, filter by Articles resource type.
Trade journals
Trade journals (magazines) serve as invaluable resources for professionals wanting to staying informed about the latest trends, developments, and innovations within specific industries. They include advertising specific to the industry and may contain details of events and job vacancies.
They provide:
- Access to industry insights, such as news market trends, emerging technologies, regulatory updates, and best practices.
- Networking opportunities, as articles are written by experts and thought leaders in the field as well as providing readers with access to diverse perspectives and expertise. They also facilitate networking opportunities through promoting conferences, seminars, and online forums.
- Professional development, keeping practitioners updated on the latest advancements and strategies relevant to their industry as well as promoting courses.
- Enhanced decision-making - by staying abreast of industry trends and developments, professionals can make more informed decisions regarding business strategies, product development and investment opportunities.
Titles include long-standing publications such as Accountancy Age, Construction News, Music Week, Nursing Times and Solicitors' Journal.
In Library Search, trade journals are part of the journals content type. You can find trade journals titles recommendations in the relevant subject guides.
Consumer newspapers and magazines
Newspapers and Magazines are often published more frequently than other types of journal, as they contain news, reviews and features which are more timely and targeted at the general public.
Each issue contains feature stories, editorial content, photographs, commentary, reviews, news stories, details of future events and job adverts.
The library subscribes to many printed magazines and newspapers you can consult within the libraries.
You also get full-text online access to many magazines and newspapers. Look for the "Available online" links in BCU Library search.