Scholarly
or Popular Periodicals: What's the Difference?
Most libraries subscribe to various types of periodicals, such as popular, scholarly (also known as peer-reviewed) or trade publications. Choosing which to use depends on your topic, the type of writing you are doing, your assignment, and the expectations of your professor about the resources you use.
Each title usually covers a single subject area (such as neonatal nursing, art history, European history, etc.)
Usually reporting on research or reviewing the literature on a topic
Language is often technical and specific to the field of research
Articles may be fairly lengthy, perhaps ten pages or more
Articles will contain a list of the references cited in the paper. Using this reference list, a reader may wish to
consult some of the same sources in his or her own research
Authorship
Articles are written by scholars, researchers or experts in the field, often affiliated with a university or research organization
May be published by an organization (such as the American Medical Association or the American Dietetic Association)
Look of the journal
Contain little or no advertising
Articles may contain charts or other graphics to illustrate the findings of the research
Title may be Journal of.., Quarterly Review of.., or American Journal of the…
May contain continuous pagination throughout a single volume
May be published less frequently, perhaps quarterly or monthly
Popular Periodicals or Magazines
Current events or
non-academic
Coverage and description
The audience is usually non-academic
Are primarily intended to entertain or inform the reader
Contain language that is general and easily understood by a general audience
May cover several topics in a single issue (such as a news magazine like Newsweek) or may cover topics
in a broad subject area (such as Audubon Magazine or Sports Illustrated)
Articles do not contain cited references lists, so the reader cannot track down the authors' original sources
Tend to have shorter articles of one to five pages
Often contain regular columns, commentary and letters to the editor
Entire periodical may have a particular tone, slant or bias
Authorship
Articles are written by reporters, journalists or staff writers
Look of the journal
Often contain numerous photos or illustrations
Often contains numerous commercial advertisements
May be published frequently (weekly or monthly)
Trade or Professional Publications
Professional or industry news
Coverage and description
Audience is members of a certain profession, such as business, industry, advertising or medicine
Contains the most current, late-breaking trends in the designated subject area
Authorship
Writers may be specialists or practitioners in the subject area and not necessarily professional journalists
May contain columns written by authorities in the subject area
Look of the journal
Often issued weekly or monthly
Probably contains advertising that is specific to the subject area
Grey Areas
Not all periodicals will fit neatly into one of the categories described above. Some titles may have articles written by
experts and be aimed at a certain audience, but also contain advertising and have brief, newsy articles. Examples
include Atlantic Monthly or Science.
How do I decide if my source is scholarly or popular or what??!
Your best bet is to read the criteria above and see which apply to the periodical or article you have in hand.
If you are using the print version of a periodical, look in the front pages for information about their submission or review process. Evidence of an editorial board usually indicates that the periodical is scholarly and peer-reviewed.
Since many articles you may consider using were printed from online sources, this is not always so easy.
Consider the tone, the authorship and the subject matter.
Many periodicals will have web sites, which will give you information about what type of periodical it is. Look for
the URL in the early pages, or Google it.
Look to see if articles contain reference lists, which would indicate a more scholarly approach.
Check to see if your article contains biographical information about the author. If it does, what are the
qualifications of the author with respect to the subject matter of the article?
Still not sure? If you still have questions about whether a source is appropriate for your information needs, speak with a reference librarian or with your instructor.
