trade journals | government documents | reports

Description: Professional literature refers to publications that are not subject to peer review but are distributed (some commercially) for various audiences and are often used by professionals in various related fields. Much of this literature targets professionals who are trying to find practical applications for research, share market or industry information, or draft public policy in areas related to Marine Affairs.

Types of professional literature

Trade journals
Publications that fall between the categories of magazines and journals, published and distributed by specific industries to promote better practices and share industry information designed to improve business. Their focus includes more product and business information and articles are by staff or experts in the field for members of a specific business or organization.

Government documents
Testimony before parliaments, legislatures, and administrative agencies; the text of laws and treaties; policy statements and white papers. Some documents contributing to the development, mission, philosophy, and operations of specific programs and/or legislation may be included.

Reports
There are, of course, many types of reports generated at different stages of the information cycle. The reports developed in the professional domain tend to be of the type that support the development of programs in environmental ...

This literature provides a blueprint for methods of using theory and research to improve the quality of life. It may provide insight into the ways in which scholarship can impact everyday professional and personal life and how theory and research may be applied in the design of programs and organizations.

This material may be among the most difficult to find, access, or piece together from disparate sources. Since congressional testimony on an issue may take months to accumulate, finding a single, specific address or interview can be challenging. Many white papers and policy documents may be published only for internal use by members of an organization or agency. Sometimes, the content contributed by researchers to the development of programs and services may be deeply embedded in policy documents and hidden in organizational structures.