Journals and magazines are important sources for up-to-date information in all disciplines. For research papers, you will be required to use scholarly sources. Therefore, it is very important to be able to distinguish scholarly writing from other types of writing.
The following criteria will help you distinguish between these following types of periodical publications: scholarly journals, general interest magazines, popular magazines, trade journals and magazines, and sensational news.
Scholarly sources are authoritative, because they are
| Scholarly Publications | Popular Publications | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | simple layout with serious appearance and dense text - main attraction is the articles | colourful, glossy, photos, illustrations, advertisements |
| Audience | scholars, researchers, students and well-educated public | general public |
| Authors | scholars, professional practitioners | journalists, professional and amateur writers who lack subject expertise |
| Content | in depth analysis or extensive overview of a topic | simple discussions of news, entertainment, or other popular subjects |
| Review Process | works published after review by credible scholars in the discipline (peer review) | works reviewed by publication editors or purchased |
| Research Documentation | footnotes and bibliographies cite the author's research | information sources are rarely cited |
| Language | technical language in the specialised vocabulary of the discipline covered | simple, non-technical language |
| Purpose/Intent | Present cutting-edge research specific to the field | to inform or entertain the reader, sell products, and/or promote a viewpoint |
| Examples | Canadian Journal of Political Science, Shakespeare Quarterly, French Historical Studies | Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Vogue, People |
Other guide to help evaluate sources: https://guides.library.queensu.ca/introduction-research/evaluating-sources