Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines

Scholarly Journals Ask Yourself News or Popular
Researcher or scholar in field Who wrote the article? Journalist, freelance writer, editorial staff
Other scholars, professionals, or students in the field Who is the intended audience? General public
To report original research, experiments, or theories What is the purpose of the publication? To inform or entertain
Always have footnotes or bibliography Does the author cite her sources? Sources may be cited or identified, but usually not
A professional association, university, or commercial enterprise Who publishes it? Commercial enterprise or an interest organization
Psychological Bulletin, Journal of Marriage and the Family, Harvard Educational Review
Examples Popular: People, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen; News or General Interest: Forbes, Newsweek, Time

Last modified on: September 08, 2009, at 03:38 AM