Periodicals and Journals
Have you been assigned to limit your search to scholarly journals, or "refereed" journals? There are not lists of such "approved" journals, but there are criteria you can use to determine the types of periodical publications. The table below can help you to distinguish among scholarly or professional/trade journals, and popular periodicals.
Sometimes these sources are primary sources while other times they may be secondary sources. Don't know the difference between the two types? See Primary vs. Secondary Sources: What's the Difference?
| Criteria | Scholarly Journals | Professional/Trade Journals | Popular Periodicals/Magazines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is the intended audience? | Researchers and experts | Members of a trade or profession | The general public |
| Who are the authors? | Researchers and experts | Staff writers and experts in the field | Staff writers, although many articles are unsigned |
| When is there documentation [are sources cited]? | Always | Sometimes | Almost never |
| What is the publication’s purpose? | To disseminate research findings | To publicize current topics in the field and professional issues | To disseminate general information or to entertain |
| What is the content? | Research reports and methodologies | Trends, standards, and new technologies in the field | General interest stories and news |
| What kind of language is used? | Jargon that assumes expertise in the field | Jargon that assumes expertise in the field | Language that requires no expertise |
| Who is the publisher? | Associations or universities | Associations | Commercial organizations |
| Is the source of the information reliable? | Yes, since the articles undergo blind reviews by other scholars | Yes, since the articles undergo reviews by editorial boards and anonymous reviews | Not necessarily since no reviews are conducted |
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