When conducting research it is important to distinguish between journal articles and magazine articles. Journal articles are typically referred to as "scholarly," while magazine articles are usually considered "popular". A third category, "trade" magazines or journals, are written for professionals in a particular field but are not strictly research related. Below are additional criteria to consider when differentiating between journals and magazines.
| Criteria | Scholarly Journal | Trade Journal/Magazine | Popular Magazine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample Title |
|
|
|
| Audience | Academics, researchers, students | People in the business, professionals | General public |
| Authors |
Experts or specialists, professors. Unpaid. |
Staff writers, industry specialists, vendor representatives. Paid. |
Journalists, staff writers, freelance writers. Paid. |
| Editorial/Review |
Editorial board and peer review. Unpaid. Edited for content, format, and style. |
Professional editors. Paid. Not peer reviewed; edited for format and style. |
Professional editors. Paid. Edited for format and style. |
| References | Required. | Occasional, brief lists. | Rare. |
| Content | In-depth, primary account of original findings written by the researcher(s); very specific information with the goal of scholarly communication. | Current news, trends, and products in a specific industry; practical information for professionals working in the field or industry. | Secondary discussion of someone else's research; may include personal narrative or opinion; general information with the purpose of entertaining. |
| Language | Specialized terminology or jargon of the field; requires expertise in the subject area. | Specialized terminology or jargon of the field, but not as technical as a scholarly journal. | General use vocabulary; easily understood to most readers. |
| Graphics | Graphs, charts, and tables; very few advertisements and photographs. | Photographs; some graphics and charts; advertisements targeted to professional field. | May have graphs, charts, and tables; lots of glossy advertisements and photographs. |
|
Layout & Organization |
Structured; includes an abstract, goals and objectives, methodology, results or evidence, discussion, conclusion, and references. | Informal; evidence is drawn from personal experience or common knowledge. | Informal; may include non-standard formatting. May not have supporting evidence or a conclusion. |
| Other Examples |
Journal of Mathematics Education |
Architectural Record PC World Restaurant Business American Libraries Psychology Today School Band and Orchestra |
Sports Illustrated National Geographic Newsweek Ladies Home Journal Cooking Light Discover |
Based on Scholarly vs. Popular Materials by Amy VanScoy, NCSU Library
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