Research Guides: Producing and Directing: MSP 4701 / 5701: Search for Articles

Why Use Journal Articles?

Journal articles -- also known as "scholarly articles," "peer-reviewed articles," or "academic articles" -- are sources that are written and reviewed by scholars; this means the information is approved by other experts before publication.

When and Why You Should Use Journal Articles:

You need information that is based on research and expertise
You need in-depth analysis of a topic or a single case study explored in-depth
You need recent scholarly conversations about a topic
You need suggestions for additional sources (tip: look in the bibliography)
You need sources that are peer-reviewed

Remember: Journal articles can sometimes feel dense or intense. Look for visual cues (headings, sections, bullets, charts/graphs) within articles to help guide you to relevant information. Need help? Check out this Anatomy of a Scholarly Article tutorial.

Subject-focused Databases to Try

These are subject-specific databases, meaning they contain sources focused on one discipline -- unlike the Library Search which contains many. For some researchers, searching in a subject-specific database is more efficient and less overwhelming than searching in the Library Search. You decide your preference.

Communication & Mass Media Complete This link opens in a new window
Contains scholarly and industry articles on all aspects of media studies, including advertising, broadcasting, communication, journalism, mass media, and more.Try starting with this database!
Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text This link opens in a new window
Contains scholarly and industry articles focused on film, video, and television.
Screen Studies Collection (formerly Film Indexes Online) This link opens in a new window
Contains scholarly articles on film history, theory, and criticism. Also includes detailed filmographies.
MLA International Bibliography This link opens in a new window
Contains scholarly articles on literary (and some film) history, theory, and criticism.
APA PsycInfo This link opens in a new window
Contains scholarly articles on all aspects of psychology and behavior.
This is a good choice if you're interested in the psychological impact of media on people, like topics related to perception, identity, imagination, fear, violence, sexuality, cognitive sciences, etc.
Sociological Abstracts This link opens in a new window
Contains scholarly articles on all aspects of sociology.
This is a good choice if you're interested in examining media from a sociological point of view, like topics related to race, class, gender, etc.
Education Source This link opens in a new window
Contains scholarly articles focused on all levels of education--from early childhood to higher education.
Business Source Complete This link opens in a new window
Contains scholarly and industry articles on all aspects of business, like management, company histories, industry information, etc. This is a good choice if you're interested in the business side of media.

Find the Full-Text

Can't Locate Your Article Online?

Use the link found in the Library Search or the button available from most other databases to locate the entire article online.
If your article is not available in print or via another research database, request it via ILLiad (interlibrary loan).