Library Tutorials: Finding Articles
Distinguish Different Types of Journals
Instructors will frequently ask you to include articles from a "scholarly" or "peer-reviewed" journal in your paper or project. Just what is a scholarly journal? How does it differ from a popular or professional magazine? Use the criteria below to determine which is which.
| Criteria | Popular | Trade | Scholarly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | inform the general public | provide news, trends, or practical information to professionals working in a particular field or industry | report research findings and promote scholarly communication |
| Authors | magazine's staff or freelance writers | staff writers or professionals in the field | scholars or researchers in the field |
| Language | non-technical language, understandable to most readers | specialized terminology or jargon of the field | specialized terminology or jargon of the field |
| Article Appearance | brief articles; illustrated with glossy/color photos and advertisements | brief articles, but can be lengthier; may include photographs, illustrations, or adverstisements targeted at professionals in the field |
lengthy articles; formal structure that usually includes: an abstract, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, and bibliography; rarely includes color pictures or ads |
| References | rarely include bibliographies | occasionally include brief bibliographies | always include extensive footnotes or bibliographies |
| Accountability | not evaluated by experts in the field | may be evaluated by experts in the field, but not peer-reviewed | usually reviewed and critically evaluated by a board of subject experts (peer-reviewed) |
Examples (click images for more examples) |
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For more assistance with distinguishing article types, Ask a Librarian.
*Based on Scholarly vs. Popular Materials Guide from North Carolina State University Libraries
