Finding Scholarly/Peer-Reviewed Journals & Articles

You might be asked to find an article in a scholarly journal instead of a popular or trade magazine. Most scholarly journals contain articles that have been reviewed or refereed by a jury of peers who are experts in the subject area being studied. This review process ensures that the information is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable. Articles must also meet rigorous standards established by each particular scholarly journal.

There are mainly three types of journals/magazines: Scholarly/research journals, trade, and popular magazines. The following general criterion will help to distinguish between categories.

NOTE: Use the library's databases (Databases A - Z) to help locate scholarly journals and articles. Many databases have options for choosing scholarly/peer-reviewed journals and also full-text articles only. Example: In Academic Search Premier, select the "Scholarly (Peer-Reviewed) Journals" box when beginning a search or find the Scholarly (Peer-Reviewed) option to the right of the search screeen after initiating a search.

 

	Scholarly Journals	Trade Magazines	Popular Magazines
Author	Expert or noted professional in the field. Has authority on the topic and in the field of study.	Written by a single author. Specialist in a field or industry.	Authors are usually staff members of the magazine or freelance writers.
Audience	Researchers and professionals	Members of a specific business, industry, or organization	Nonprofessionals
Appearance	Plain, mainly black and white, contains graphs and charts. May include illustrations. Articles may be 10 or more pages.	Cover usually displays an industrial setting. Includes colored pictures and graphics with glossy paper. Articles are 1-5 pages.	Dramatic cover, colored pictures and graphics with glossy paper. Articles are 1-5 pages.
Advertising	Very few or none. May advertise job listings.	Moderate amount aimed at people in a particular profession or industry. Often includes job listings.	Very heavy amount aimed at the general public.
Content	Original research, methodology, theory, and studies. May have review essays or book reviews.	Industry trends, new products or techniques, and organizational news.	General interest articles, current events, popular culture.
Review Methods	Most articles reviewed by peers who are scholars in the subject area being studied.	An editorial review, not a peer review.	Articles reviewed by an editorial board or members of the magazines staff.
Sources Cited	Lists several references in footnotes or end notes and includes bibliographies.	Articles have very few or no footnotes. May have a bibliography.	Articles very rarely have footnotes.

EXAMPLES

(Click title to link to the Web sites that describe each)

 

Scholarly -------------------------------Trade ----------------------------------- Popular

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Last Update: August 2008, CR

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