How Do I Find Journal Articles?
Magazine
and journals are important information sources for up-to-date information.
They are issued daily, weekly, monthly, and annually and contain articles
written by various authors. On many occasions, magazines and journals
may be referred to as periodicals or serials. For many assignments, your
instructor may indicate the types of sources you should consult for your
research. Here's a quick guide to understand the differences between popular
magazines and scholarly journals.
Click here for a more detailed printable document about the differences between scholarly journals and trade and popular magazines.
Popular Magazines
|
- Short articles
- Authors are
journalists or freelance writers
- Readers are
non-academic or non-specialized
|
- Numerous
full page color advertisements
- Articles
do not contain a bibliography or references
- Articles
are meant to inform, update or entertain
|
Scholarly Journals
(also known as peer reviewed or refereed publications)
|
-
Lengthy
articles (5-50+ pages)
-
Authors
are authorities in their fields
-
Readers
are specialists or students in the field
|
-
Most
have little or no advertising
-
Authors
cite their sources in references or bibliographies
-
Articles
focus on research reports, methodology and theory
|
