Both academic journals and practitioner journals are useful when looking for research on topics in education.
There are some differences:
Academic journalsin education feature articles written by researchers which focus on the latest scholarship in the fields of teaching and learning. Thesewill often have a specific format (introduction, methods, results, and discussion) and a lengthy list of references. These articles are frequently peer-reviewed and can be excellent resources for educators on measurement and evaluation, policy, leadership and decision-making, human development, theoretical and conceptual foundations, and institutional structures.
Practitioner journal articles are written to reach those working in the field and will have information on practical and engaging instructional methods or trends in the field. These articles will also have references but tend to be fewer. Education practitioner journals feature articles written by educators on trends, changes, and innovative practices in the field. These journals can be excellent resources for educators on instruction, curriculum design, and effective and engaging activities for the classroom.
The next two boxes will give you some of the best choices to work with.
Spanning many disciplines, the flagship journal of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) provides the latest research, not only for researchers and theoreticians, but also for child psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, specialists in early childhood education, educational psychologists, special education teachers, and other researchers.
Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs (JORSEN) is an established online forum for the dissemination of international research on special educational needs.
The Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness is the essential professional resource for information about visual impairment. The international peer-reviewed journal of record in the field, it delivers current research and best practice information, commentary from experts on critical topics, news, and events.
Remedial and Special Education (RASE) offers interdisciplinary articles that bridge the gap between theory and practice involving the education of individuals for whom typical instruction is not effective. Articles include topical reviews, syntheses of research, field evaluation studies, and recommendations for practice of remedial and special education.
Teaching Exceptional Children (TEC) features research-to-practice information and materials for classroom use, as well as current issues in special education teaching and learning.
Journal of Special Education Technology (JSET) is a refereed professional journal that presents up-to-date information and opinions about issues, research, policy, and practice related to the use of technology in the field of special education. JSET supports the publication of research and development activities, provides technological information and resources, and presents important information and discussion concerning important issues in the field of special education technology to scholars, teacher educators, and practitioners.
