Scholarly journals and popular magazines differ in their purpose, style, and content. Scholarly journals contain original research that has undergone peer review, with authors citing sources and including in-depth qualitative or quantitative analysis. They are written by experts in a field for other scholars. Popular magazines aim to inform and entertain the general public with shorter, less in-depth articles by staff writers or freelancers. They include advertisements and do not normally cite external sources. While magazines provide background on current topics, scholarly journals are used to support academic research.
1. Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines John B. Cade Library http://www.lib.subr.edu Created by: M. Payne, Reference Librarian
2. Understanding Periodicals This tutorial will help you understand what periodicals are, the types of periodicals you will encounter, and how to apply this knowledge to improve your research skills. Periodicals
3. What are periodicals? A periodical is a publication that comes out periodically -that is, daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Periodicals consist of: magazines, newspapers, and journals.
5. Periodical (magazine) Magazine A popular interest periodical usually containing articles on a variety of topics, written by various authors in a non-scholarly style. Most magazines are heavily illustrated, contain advertising, and are printed on glossy paper. Articles are usually short (less than five pages long), and do not include a bibliography or list of references for further reading.
7. Periodicals (newspaper) Newspaper A serial publication, usually printed on newsprint and issued daily, on certain days of the week, or weekly, containing news, editorial comment, regular columns, letters to the editor, cartoons, advertising, and other items of current and often local interest to a general readership. Some national newspapers are issued twice daily in early and late editions or in different editions for different regions of the country.
9. Periodical (journal) Journal A periodical devoted to disseminating original research and commentary on current developments in a specific discipline, sub-discipline, or field of study. Usually published, quarterly, bimonthly, or monthly. Journal articles are usually written by the person (or persons) who conducted the research. Longer than most magazine articles, they almost always include a bibliography or list of works cited at the end. Scholarly journals are peer-reviewed.
11. Scholarly Journals Also referred to as “Peer Reviewed” or “Refereed,” contain: Original research (qualitative or quantitative) Reviewed and selected other scholars in to be published.
12. Peer-reviewed Peer-reviewed Scholarly journal that requires an article to be subjected to a process of critical evaluation by one or more experts on the subject, known as referees, responsible for determining if the subject of the article falls within the scope of the publication and for evaluating originality, quality of research, clarity.
13. Scholarly Journals Authors are authorities in their fields. Authors cite their sources in endnotes, footnotes, or bibliographies. Individual issues have little or no advertising. Articles must go through a peer-review process. Articles are usually reports on scholarly research. Illustrations usually take the form of charts and graphs. Articles use jargon of the discipline.
15. Elements of a scholarly journals What’s found in scholarly journals: Abstracts An abstract provides a brief description of the research article.
16. Elements of a scholarly journal What found in a scholarly journals? Qualitative Research Qualitative research is empirical research in which the researcher explores relationships using focus groups, interviews, and observing/recording behavior.
17. Elements of a scholarly journal What is found in a scholarly journal? Quantitative Research Numeric information including quantities, percentages, and statistics. Research begins with a hypothesis to explain numbers and data.
18. Elements of a scholarly journal What is found in a scholarly journal? Methods Methodology is a collection of practices, procedures and rules used by those who work in the research field.
19. Elements of a scholarly journal What is found in a scholarly journal? Results Results show statistical calculations performed on the data.
21. Elements of a magazine article Authors are magazine staff members or freelance writers Authors mention sources, but rarely formally cite them in bibliographies Contain numerous advertisements No peer-review process Inform/entertain Language geared to general audience
