Journals are scholarly magazines published by and for professionals in specialized fields.
They contain articles emphasizing research and analysis and often concentrate on specific areas within a discipline. Each format has its strengths and drawbacks. Some indexes are discipline specific, e.g., PsycINFO for Psychology and MLA International Bibliography for literature. When choosing an index consider the subject area, the depth of information desired and the complexity of the question. Sometimes a topic will cross several subject areas, and it can be helpful to look at the way the topic is treated in different indexes.