Ethics

There are several different types of articles you will find when searching library databases.

Journals

Journal articles are written by scholars in an academic or professional field. An editorial board reviews articles to decide whether they should be published. Journal articles may cover very specific topics or narrow fields of research.

A subset of journals is referred to as "peer reviewed" which means that submissions are reviewed by a set of experts before publishing to ensure high quality, original research.

Examples of journals include Journal of Modern History, Science, Journal of Educational Psychology, and The American Journal of Nursing.

Since journals are published at periodic intervals, they are grouped in the category called "periodicals."
Use a Journal

•     when doing scholarly research
•     to find out what has been studied on your topic

Magazines
Magazines publish articles on topics of popular interest and current events. The articles are written by journalists and are for the general public.

Magazines, like journals and newspapers, are called "periodicals" because they are published at regular intervals throughout the year.

Use a Magazine

•     to find information or opinions about popular culture
•     to find up-to-date information about current events
•     to find general articles written for people who are not necessarily specialists 

Newspapers

Newspapers provide articles each day about current events and are a good source for local information.

Newspapers, like journals and magazines, are called "periodicals" because they are published regularly, or periodically.
Use a Newspaper

•     to find current information about international, national and local events
•     to find editorials, commentaries, expert or popular opinions