Social Work and Community Welfare

In addition to the key databases listed on the Key resources page, try these:

Your lecturer may require you to find peer-reviewed journal articles.  Here are some tips on finding out if your journal is a peer-reviewed journal:

There are 4 ways to check for peer-reviewed status:

• does the database allow you to restrict your search to peer reviewed publications (like Ebsco)
• does the database offer a way to check by clicking the journal title, or a browse title link (like APA-FT)
• search a specialised database such as Ulrichsweb for the journal title. In Ulrichsweb you are hoping to see a little black and white striped referee shirt  which indicates the publication is peer reviewed (or refereed). Use a database such as Serials Directory (EBSCO) to search for the journal title and see where the publication is indexed. Reputable journals will be indexed by well known databases.
• search the web for the home page of the journal. Look for an information for authors/contributors page. Does it tell authors that their work will be subject to a peer-reviewed process.

Also remember to check that your article is scholarly and not just an opinion or commentary piece that happens to be in a peer-reviewed publication.  Some good indicators:

• the author gives their academic qualifications/affiliations with a university
• often there is an abstract
• substantial document - longer than 2 pages
• list of references at the end.

The Library subscribes to hundreds of Social Work and Community Welfare journals.

Click here to view a complete list of journal titles.