Trade / Professional Journals

Trade or Professional journals are written for an audience of professionals in the field. They sometimes look a lot like scholarly articles.

When would I want to use a Trade / Professional Journal?

• When you want to find information about practical application of an idea within a profession.
• When you need business information.
• When you need to see what the most important or current issues are in a profession.

Some general characteristics are:

• The articles do not contain original research, but focus on applying research to real life situations (e.g. an article discussing how teachers can apply the latest research on learning theories to their teaching)
• The assumed audience is made up of professionals who have expertise in the subject
• Specialized vocabulary is often used
• Issues of practical application are emphasized
• The journals are at least partially funded through advertisements

How can I find Trade or Professional journal articles?

• Use a general index (print or online) that covers professional literature
• Use a subject specific index (print or online) that covers professional literature