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Writing an Educational Research Paper

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Types of Journals

The following guide contains tips on writing a research paper in Education.

Popular (Magazines and Newspapers)

Provide information and entertainment to segments of the public

Most of the periodicals you have encountered in life--magazines and newspapers available at the grocery store, airport kiosks, and convenience stores--are categorized as "popular" periodicals. That is, they have wide readerships, usually have a profit-oriented purpose of increasing circulation and selling advertising space, and they cover ideas, issues, events, personalities, and activities that have popular appeal.

 

Time Magazine Cover
 
Cover of Sports Illustrated New York Times Newspaper front page Star Magazine cover

Trade/Industry Journals

Provide practical business and industry news and information to workplace professionals

You probably haven't ever run across Global Cosmetic Industry or Ink World at an airport kiosk. That's because they have very narrow appeal, targeting particular industries.  They provide news about new products and processes, conferences and trade shows, and companies. Sometimes these are the only source of information about recent developments in business and industry.

Trade magazine cover Trade magazine cover Trade magazine cover Trade magazine cover Trade magazine cover  

 

Scholarly/Academic/Peer-Reviewed Journals

Provide well-sourced technical information to researchers and expert practitioners

The American Journal of Sociology and International Journal of Nursing Studies won't be making appearances at your local grocery checkout aisle. Journals like these, with circulations of one to four thousand, clearly aren't focused on wide appeal. They provide platforms for scholars to share groundbreaking research results that are often arcane and difficult to read for outsiders, and yet are often the only source for groundbreaking research in all fields, including humanities, social sciences, and hard sciences.

Cover of Journal of  Education and Research Cover of American Academy of Religion journal Cover AJS journal Cover Journal of Latin American Studies Cover Journal of Nursing Studies