How to use resources: Finding journal articles

Finding journal articles when you have a reference

You may already have a reference to a journal article and wish to find out if you can access it from Brunel, eg

This example is formatted using the Harvard referencing style.  Whichever style you use, it is useful to be able to identify the different parts of a reference to an article as this can help when searching for the article itself.

Most, but not all, of our journals are discoverable from the Library Search:

  • Library search - simply search for the title of the journal article eg "changing the game the impact of twitter"

If the article you want is not there, we may still have it in other collections.  To do a thorough search, it's also worth searching:

Using the e-journals A-Z

If you can't find the reference you need from the Library Search, try our comprehensive A-Z list of e-journals:

As this is simply a list of journals, instead of searching for the article title, search for the journal name eg "Soccer and society".

Check to make sure we have the year you need, then follow the link to the journal to open the volume and issue your article is in.

Using the E-journals A-Z can also be useful for browsing particular journals that have been recommended to you, most of which have the option to search within.

Finding print journal articles

If you have searched the Library and the E-journals A-Z, and still can't find the article you need, it's worth checking to see if we have the journal you need in our print collection.  This can be useful for:

  • journals only published in print format
  • magazines
  • older volumes/issues of a journal

Our print journals are for reference only and are arranged in shelfmark order on Floor 3.  Search the library catalogue for the name of journal you need, eg Soccer and society which can be found at shelfmark GV943.9.A1S63.

To check which years we have, click on 'Catalogue Record'.

FAQ 1: What is a journal?

A journal is an academic magazine published regularly throughout the year.  Journals contain articles written by academics, researchers, or specialists in their field.

Benefits of using journal articles:

  • up-to-date
  • based on research
  • specific

FAQ 2: How can I access journal articles?

If you already have a reference to a journal article and you want to find it, follow the steps in this guide:

FAQ 3: How do I find my own journal articles?

To find journal articles to support your research, there are a number of ways to search:

FAQ 4: I need help!

If you need help finding literature for your research, or are having difficulties opening documents, help is available.