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Scholarly vs. Popular Periodicals: What’s the
Difference?
Peer-Review | Types of
Periodicals
Some assignments require you to
use only scholarly journals, not popular magazines. There is
no foolproof way to tell the difference. However, there are
some features you can look for to help you decide if a
periodical is scholarly.
The
final judgment of whether a periodical is "scholarly enough"
for your assignment rests with your instructor. Whenever you
are in doubt, ask him or her if the item is acceptable!
CHARACTERISTICS OF POPULAR MAGAZINES:
Intended to entertain or inform
broad audiences
Articles are not peer-reviewed
Articles do not cite sources or provide a bibliography
Author’s credentials not listed or author is not identified
No special knowledge required to understand articles
Language is informal, catchy
Photos and graphics create visual interest
Varied page layout and type styles
Brightly colored pages and cover Little or no color
Extensive advertising
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCHOLARLY JOURNALS:
Intended to add to the body of knowledge in a specific field
of study
Articles are peer-reviewed before
publication
Articles always include extensive notes or a bibliography, or
both
Author’s professional or academic credentials listed; a way to
contact the author may be provided
Prior knowledge of the subject is usually required to fully
understand articles
Language is formal, may use jargon or specialized terms
without explanation
Graphics used only when necessary to support the text (such as
charts or tables)
Layout is simple and uniform; all articles will follow the
same format
Little or no advertising
If you have
nothing else to go on, look for footnotes, a bibliography, and
the author’s credentials. Also scan the article for signs that
it involves research, such as a description of how a study or
experiment was conducted, or a review of previous literature
on the subject.
PEER-REVIEW: WHAT'S THAT?
Most scholarly journals are
PEER-REVIEWED or REFEREED, meaning that articles submitted for
publication must be approved by a panel of readers who are
considered experts in their fields. Members of the panel read
the article independently and recommend that it be accepted,
rejected, or revised. Because they are highly selective,
peer-reviewed journals are often the most prestigious in their
fields.
The masthead or editorial policies for a journal will usually
state whether it is peer-reviewed or not; look for this
information in the front or back of each issue. A partial list
of peer-reviewed journals is available in Ulrich’s
International Periodicals Directory, kept in Ready
Reference.
A few periodical indexes, such as
EBSCO—Academic Search Complete or
CINAHL, will let you limit your article searches to
peer-reviewed journals only. Ask at the Reference Desk
(475-5725) for help limiting your searches this way.
SOME COMMON TYPES OF PERIODICALS
PROFESSIONAL: For members a
specific profession, such a teachers, lawyers, or doctors.
Contains articles of interest or use in the daily practice of
the profession. Examples:
Library
Journal or
NurseWeek
A
word to the wise:
Distinguishing between professional and scholarly journals is
sometimes impossible.
JAMA, the Journal of the
American Medical Association, is a full-color, glossy
publication full of advertising and news-oriented articles for
medical professionals; yet it also publishes results from
scholarly medical research and is peer-reviewed.
TRADE: For insiders in a
particular business or industry. Tracks the most current
industry news and developments. Examples:
Women’s Wear Daily or
Aviation Week
NEWS: Reports on news and
current events. Examples:
Time or
U.S. News and World Report
OPINION & EDITORIAL: Provides
opinion and analysis of current issues, focusing on politics,
government, and other public affairs. Often represents a
particular viewpoint, such as conservative or liberal.
Examples:
The Nation or
National Review
POPULAR/SPECIAL INTEREST:
Offers articles of interest to a specific demographic or
interest group, such as teens, women, hobbyists, sports fans,
etc. Examples:
Jet or
Sports Illustrated
LITERARY: Publishes fiction,
poetry, and other works of literature. Examples:
Ploughshares or
Poetry Magazine
This page last updated on
January 13, 2009.
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