STANDARD ONE
In the course of your research, you will need to consult a variety of sources for information. Instructors may ask that you distinguish between popular, scholarly, peer-reviewed, or trade journals. This lesson describes these terms and provides examples of each.
Note: each category of journal will have a majority but not necessarily all of the characteristics listed.
The following are among the characteristics of popular journals:
- Written for a broad general audience using basic everyday language
- Contain many advertisements
- Contain many graphics
- Printed on glossy paper and have an enticing appearance
- Articles are generally short and may be unsigned
- Articles usually contain no cited sources or bibliography
- Printed by commercial publishers
- Often issued weekly or monthly
- Page numbers start over with every issue
- Purpose is to entertain and sell products through advertisements
Examples: Time, Newsweek, People, Sports Illustrated
It is typically not acceptable to use or cite popular journals in scholarly work, but certain assignments may necessitate using them. Ask your instructor if you are unsure as to whether using popular materials is permitted.
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The following are among the characteristics of scholarly journals:
- Written for a specialized, professional audience using formal, scientific, or complex language
- Contain few (if any) advertisements
- May contain charts or graphs
- Article sources are cited in footnotes or a bibliography
- Printed on matte paper and have a serious appearance
- Articles are generally longer, are signed, and include author’s scholarly or professional affiliation
- Printed by university presses, societies, associations, and other professional entities
- Often printed monthly, quarterly, or annually
- Page numbers often continue across an entire volume of issues
- May contain instructions for submitting articles
- Titles are often formal and contain the words “Journal,” “Quarterly,”
”Transactions” or terms from the subject field
- Purpose is to share original research in the subject field among scholars
Examples: JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, American Literary History, Nature, Annals of Physics, Annual Review of Anthropology
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Your instructor may ask specifically that you use "peer-reviewed journals." Peer-reviewed journals are those that have had their articles vetted by professional peers of the author (working in the same or an affiliated field) and judged by an editor or editorial board to be sufficiently scholarly and original prior to publication.
Not all journals are peer-reviewed, but all peer-reviewed journals are scholarly.
Important: Some items in peer-reviewed journals, such as news, advertisements, and book reviews might not have gone through the review process.
Further, an item, such as an article or a book review, may be included in a scholarly journal because the author has been invited to contribute to the issue. Such an item may not go through the formal review process because the author is already recognized as a significant scholar in a field.
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The following are among the characteristics of trade journals:
- Can be considered a hybrid between popular and scholarly journals
- Contain advertisements that are focused on a particular field
- May contain flashy graphics similar to a popular magazine
- May be published on glossy paper
- Provide information on a particular trade or industry
Examples: Computerworld, Advertising Age
Note: consider content and authority of authors carefully to determine whether trade journals are appropriate to use in scholarly research.
If, within the context of your assignment, you need assistance in identifying whether a source is popular, scholarly, or a trade publication, please ask your instructor or a librarian.
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