Chapter 2: Field-Specific Sources
Trade Publications, Professional Organizations, Scholarly Journals, and Scholarly Organizations
What is a Trade Journal or Magazine?
A publication that is
- focused on news and information for a single industry or field, such as marketing, accounting, or information systems
- written for people who work in a specific field
- written to be easily read by insiders or professionals working in that industry or field
- associated, often, with a professional organization
- written by professionals in the field, or by journalists who have developed a specialty in that field
Trade Publication Examples
- Aviation Business Journal
- Cheese Market News
- Massage Today
- Nation’s Restaurant News
- Pet Boarding and Day Care Magazine
- Pizza Today
What is a Professional Organization?
An association, society, or group, usually nonprofit, whose purpose is to
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- facilitate networking and professional development for professionals in a specific field or industry
- advance and maintain the profession through conferences, publications, online forums, and social media
- provide certifications and/or continuing education
- promote an ethical code
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Professional Organization Examples
- American Society of Appraisers
- American Society of Theatre Consultants
- Associated Builders and Contractors
- Cereal & Grains Association
- Event Service Professionals Association
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association
- National Notary Association
What is a Scholarly Journal?
A publication that
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- is peer reviewed
- is created for an academic audience
- focuses on research for a specific field of study
- uses jargon and academic language
- contains lengthy articles (often 15-30 pages) that include an abstract and extensive citations and references
- is written by professors for professors and university-affiliated researchers
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Scholarly Journal Examples
- American Journal of Agricultural Economics
- Business and Professional Ethics Journal
- Classical and Quantum Gravity
- European Journal of Epidemiology
- International Review of Administrative Sciences
- Journal of Applied Econometrics
- Medical Anthropology Quarterly
- Yale Journal of International Law
What is a Scholarly Organization?
An association, society, or group, usually nonprofit, whose purpose is to
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-
- facilitate the sharing of research among academics with a shared specialization in a specific field
- advance and maintain the profession through conferences, publications, online forums, and social media
- provide opportunities for networking among its members
- provide grants and awards for outstanding research
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Scholarly Organization Examples
- American Academy of Religion
- American Anthropological Association
- American College of Clinical Pharmacy
- American Geosciences Institute
- Association of Eighteenth-Century Studies
- Milton Society of America
- Native American and Indigenous Studies Association
The next section provides lists of professional organizations, trade publications, and scholarly journals, organized by major or career interest. Use the links below to jump to specific pages.
Analytics, Big Data, IT, and Information Systems
Entertainment, Fashion and Sports
Entrepreneurs, Start-ups, and Small Business Owners
Finance, Investment, and Banking
Healthcare, Medical, and Pharmaceutical Fields
Human Resources and Management