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Telling the Difference Between Popular and Scholarly Articles
There are several types of periodical publications found in research library collections. Knowing something about the characteristics of each type – popular, scholarly or trade – will help you identify periodical titles appropriate to the type of writing you are looking for.
How to Recognize Popular Periodicals (Magazines)
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Length of Article
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Short (1-5 pages)
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Audience
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General, non-academic, non specialized audience
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Authority/Expertise
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Journalists, rather than researchers or specialists in a given field.
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Bibliography
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None. The reader cannot check the author’s information by tracking down and reading the original information.
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Frequency
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Published frequently (i.e. weekly, biweekly or monthly).
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Inclusions
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Many photographs or other illustrations. Extensive commercial advertising.
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Subjects
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Variety of topics.subject areas (Time, The New Yorker, National Review) or single subject area with the intention of informing or entertaining a general audience. Sports Illustrated or Audobon are good examples.
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Vocabulary
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Use conventional/conversational language, as opposed to a specialized vocabulary.
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Availability
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Can be purchased at newsstands and grocery stores.
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Examples
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Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, Sports Illustrated, Ms.
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How to Recognize Scholarly Periodicals (Journals)
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Length of Articles
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Lengthy articles (5-50 pages).
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Audience
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Are intended for an academic or scholarly audience.
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Authority/Expertise
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Publish articles written by academics, specialists or researchers in the field (as opposed to articles written by journalists reporting on or synthesizing research).
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Bibliography
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Bibliography, also called footnotes or cited references. Allows the reader to consult the same material that the author used in his/her research.
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Frequency
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Usually monthly, quarterly, or once or twice per year.
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Inclusions
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Often publish reviews of the literature.
Rare use of news photos and other types of graphics unless the research is visual in nature, such as art, design or architecture. Little or no advertising.
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Subject Coverings
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Generally confined to a single, very specific aspect of a subject area (e.g. music theory, European political science, film studies, language development).
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Availability
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Journals are purchased by libraries and by professionals in a given field; they are not widely available for purchase at newsstands.
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Vocabulary
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Use technical or specialized vocabulary.
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Other
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Are often produced under the editorial supervision of a professional association (e.g. Journal of the American Medical Association) or by a scholarly press (e.g., Elsevier, Pergamon).
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Examples
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New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Religion, Developmental Psychology, Journal of American History
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Trade Publications (also called Professional Publications)
There is a third type of publication, often referred to as trade or professional. These publications are geared towards very specific audiences, usually managers or administrators in business, finance & industry. They are issued weekly or monthly to take advantage of fast-breaking changes in products or technology. They often contain regular columns of news and commentary, as well as lengthier articles about current issues and trends of interest to people in the field. Articles may be written by specialists or journalists. Examples of better known trade publications include Beverage Industry, Adweek, and Food Processing.
Grey Areas
There are always grey areas with respect to pinning down what is popular or scholarly. Titles like Harpers, Atlantic Monthly, Parabola, and Science contain sophisticated writing, footnoted articles, and authors that hold advanced degrees. At the same time, they display advertisements, have regular columns, photos, and brief articles, and are published by large media conglomerates. If you are concerned about whether the article you want to use falls within a particular category, look for a bibliography, or lack of one, at the end of the article. Also, look for a brief biography of the author, either at the beginning of the article or at the end of the publication for information about the author’s education and/or institutional affiliation. Most scholarly publications will identify the department and college, university or research lab where the author works.
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