Critical Thinking About Sources

While you should evaluate each source you use, the journals found in the library's databases have been checked to ensure they present high-quality sources of information.

First make sure you are looking at a journal and not a magazine, trade publication, or other type of periodical.

Things to look for:

• Functioning Website
• Peer-Review
• Scope of the Journal
• Editor(s) Information
• Any Institutional Affiliations?
• Membership Fees and/or Advertising Policy?
• If Open-Access, are they listed in the DOAJ?

Ulrich's will usually have most of this information listed in some way. 

For more information on using and searching databases, visit the LibGuide linked below.