Scholarly journals vspopular magazine

Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines

Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines

John B. Cade Library http://www.lib.subr.edu

John B. Cade Library http://www.lib.subr.edu

Created by: M. Payne, Reference Librarian

Understanding PeriodicalsUnderstanding Periodicals

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.

What are periodicals?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.

EXAMPLES OF PERIODICALSEXAMPLES OF PERIODICALS

Periodical (magazine)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.

Examples of Periodicals Examples of Periodicals

Magazines

Periodicals (newspaper)Periodicals (newspaper)

NewspaperA 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.

Examples of newspapersExamples of newspapers

Periodical (journal)Periodical (journal)

JournalA 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.

Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazine

Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazine

Scholarly JournalsScholarly Journals

Also referred to as “Peer Reviewed”

or “Refereed,” contain:• Original research

(qualitative or quantitative)• Reviewed and selected other scholars in to be

published.

Peer-reviewedPeer-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.

Scholarly JournalsScholarly 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.

ELEMENTS OF A SCHOLARLY ARTICLEELEMENTS OF A SCHOLARLY ARTICLE

Elements of a scholarly journalsElements of a scholarly journals

What’s found in scholarly journals:

Abstracts

An abstract provides a brief description of the research article.

Elements of a scholarly journalElements 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.

Elements of a scholarly journalElements 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.

Elements of a scholarly journalElements 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.

Elements of a scholarly journalElements of a scholarly journal

What is found in a scholarly journal?

Results

Results show statistical calculations performed on the data.

ELEMENTS OF A MAGAZINE ARTICLEELEMENTS OF A MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Elements of a magazine articleElements 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

Elements of a magazine articleElements of a magazine article

Magazine

• Heavy advertising

• Written to inform or to entertain

• No bibliography

Elements of a magazine articleElements of a magazine article

• Short articles• Current

events

Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazine Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazine

Scholarly Journal• Written by professionals

or experts • More difficult to read• May have supporting

diagrams/charts/illustrations

• Associated with professional and academic groups

• Use to support academic writing for college research

Popular Magazine• Written to

inform/entertain and update reader

• Staff writers are free lance writers

• Little depth• Flash

cover/advertisement• No bibliography• Read to keep current on

topics; get background information; summary on topic

Emma Bradford Perry, Dean of Libraries

Created by. M. Payne, Reference Librarian