Scholarly Journals: How to identify scholarly journals

Scholarly Journals

• Authors are authorities in their fields.
• Articles are written for other researchers or for serious students of the subject.
• Authors cite their sources in endnotes, footnotes, or bibliographies. 
• Individual issues have little or no advertising. 
• Articles must go through a peer-review or refereed process (review by two or more experts before being approved for publication). 
• Articles are usually reports of scholarly research. 
• Illustrations usually take the form of charts and graphs. 
• Articles use formal language or the jargon of the discipline. 

Trade Publications

• Authors are specialists in a certain field or industry.
• Authors often mention sources, but rarely formally cite them in bibliographies.
• Intended audience includes people in the industry or people seeking employment in the industry.
• There is no peer review process.
• Articles give practical information and news updates to people in an industry.
• Some illustrations are included, usually charts, graphs, etc.
• Authors use jargon of the industry.

Popular Magazines and NewSpapers

• Authors are magazine staff members or freelance writers. 
• Authors often mention sources, but rarely formally cite them in bibliographies. 
• Individual issues contain numerous advertisements. 
• There is no peer review process. 
• Articles are meant to inform and entertain. 
• Illustrations may be numerous and colorful. 
• Language is geared to the general adult audience (no specialized knowledge of jargon needed).

Examples of the four major categories of periodicals:

Adapted with permission from University Library. California State University Northridge. Scholarly Journals, Popular Magazines, and Trade Publications.