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CRJU 2100: Introduction to Criminal Justice (Kopf): Academic sources

This guide contains suggested resources for completing assignments in CRJU 2100.

Introduction to academic sources

Academic sources, in this case, are articles written by and for scholars who study criminal justice topics. The authors of the articles have conducted their own original research study, and they report the results of that study in the article. They submit these articles to be published by a scholarly journal in their field.

Not all articles published in journals are research articles; therefore, not all articles published in journals would fit the scope of this assignment. The handout below describes different types of articles so you know what clues to look for as you're deciding which articles to choose.

Types of articles published in academic journals

Not all articles published in journals are research articles; therefore, not all articles published in journals would fit the scope of this assignment. The handout below describes different types of articles so you know what clues to look for as you're deciding which articles to choose.

Develop a search strategy

Develop a search strategy.

  • Identify 2-4 keywords that describe the main concepts that should be represented in the article
  • Combine each concept with AND
  • Use the handout linked below (Generating and Combining Keywords) to learn more about identifying synonyms and related terms for a more thorough and efficient search.

How to find articles published in one of the approved journals

1. Begin at the BGSU Libraries home page [linked at the bottom of this box]

2. Click on "all databases" (under the Summon search box).

3. Select "EBSCO Databases" on the right side of the page at the top of the column.

4. Combine separate keywords by entering them in two or three search boxes.

5. On the search results screen, click on "academic journals" beneath the search box. 

6. Click on "all filters" beneath the search box. 

7.  A menu of options will appear on the right. Scroll down and select the "publication" filter.

8. Select "more" to see a complete list of journal titles.

9. Mark the check box next to one or more of the titles from the list of approved journals in assignment 4.

10. Click "apply"

A screenshot of a list of publication titles in the publication filter

To ensure you have access to BGSU subscriptions while using Google Scholar, follow one of these two steps:

1. Begin at the BGSU Library web site, click on "all databases" and select Google Scholar from our list of databases.

OR

2. Begin at scholar.google.com. Click on the menu at the top left (three horizontal parallel lines). Select "settings". Select "library links" and search for BGSU if it isn't showing up automatically.

To find articles in one of the approved journals

1. Click on the menu at the top left (three horizontal parallel lines)

2. Select "Advanced Search"

3. Add keywords to describe your topic

4. In the field labeled "return articles published in", add the name of one of the approved journals in quotation marks ("Social Problems").

5. Pay close attention to the journal name. Many journal titles use many of the same words within them.

 1. Begin at the BGSU Libraries home page [linked at the bottom of this box] and select the "Journals by title" link underneath the search box.

Screenshot of "journals by title" link on the BGSU Libraries web site

2. Search for the title of the journal.

3a. If BGSU has a subscription, you will see a search box labeled "search inside this journal". Type keywords related to your topic in the box. If you are not successful, skip to follow the instructions for steps 3b-6.

Screenshot of search box for American Journal of Criminal Justice

3b. (Only necessary if step 3a doesn't work for you). If BGSU owns a subscription, you will see one or more options for accessing the journal. Each link for access include the dates covered.

Screenshot of access options for the American Journal of Criminal Justice

4. Select the option that covers the widest range of dates. Or if one access link doesn't work for some reason, try a different one.

5. Look for an option to search within the journal. **If access is provided by EBSCO, you will need to scroll down past the three search boxes before you see an option to search within the publication.

Screenshot of Search Within This Journal option in OhioLINK's Electronic Journal Center

6. Add keywords related to your topic to the search.

Selecting the most appropriate, relevant articles from your results list

Use the questions in the CRAAP test to help you select the most appropriate, relevant original research articles from your search results list.

Citing Academic Sources (Journal Articles)

Approved journals: Assignment 4

  • Aggression and Violent Behavior
  • American Journal of Criminal Justice
  • Annual Review of Criminology
  • British Journal of Criminology
  • Crime & Delinquency
  • Crime and Justice: A Review of Research
  • Criminal Justice and Behavior
  • Criminal Justice Ethics
  • Criminal Justice Policy Review
  • Criminal Justice Review
  • Criminology
  • Criminology & Public Policy
  • Deviant Behavior
  • Feminist Criminology
  • Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice
  • Journal of Crime & Justice
  • Journal of Criminal Justice
  • Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology
  • Journal of Criminology (ISSN: 2090-7753)
  • Journal of Experimental Criminology
  • Journal of Interpersonal Violence
  • Journal of Quantitative Criminology
  • Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency
  • Journal of Youth and Adolescence
  • Justice Quarterly
  • Policing and Society
  • Police Quarterly
  • Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
  • Social Forces
  • Social Problems
  • Social Science Research
  • Theoretical Criminology
  • Trauma, Violence & Abuse
  • Youth Violence & Juvenile Justice