Scholarly vs. Popular Journals

Henry Buhl Library

How to tell if a journal is "scholarly" or "popular" :

	Scholarly Journals	Popular Journals
Audience	Scholars, Researchers, Students	General public
Author	Author's credentials are usually listed; usually a scholar with subject expertise.	Author may or may not be named. Often a professional writer with limited or no subject expertise.
Citations	Required. All facts and sources can be verified.	Rarely listed. Insufficient facts are sometimes given and sources are difficult to verify.
Content	Articles usually more structured; may include these sections: abstract, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, bibliography. May include illustrations that support the text, such as tables of statistics, graphs, maps, or photographs.	Articles do not necessarily follow a specific format or structure. May include illustrations with glossy or color photographs.
Language	Specialized language is used; requires prior knowledge.	Vocabulary is aimed at the general public and is understandable for most readers.
Examples Of Journals	JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association	Time

Remember to check Ulrich's Periodicals Directory (database) to determine whether a journal is refereed (peer-reviewed).