Research the Smart Way: c. Journals vs. magazines

Criteria

Scholarly Journals

Popular Magazines

Format/Style:

Serious/Formal

Many visuals/Informal

Graphics:

Contains graphs, tables, and charts with few photographs

Contains photographs, illustrations, and other graphics

Sources/

Documentation:

Sources cited with footnotes and/or bibliographies

Citations or bibliography rarely provided and original sources can be obscure

Authors/Audience

Identified

Scholarly or researchers in the field or discipline; intended for scholars or researchers in respective field or discipline

Not always identified

Publication’s staff or journalists; intended for a broad audience

Language:

Uses terminology or jargon specific to respective discipline

Simple

Purpose/Scope:

Informs, reports or makes available original research or experimentation

Entertains or persuades and occasionally utilized to sell products or services

Publishers:

Published by an academic press or professional organization

Published commercial/trade organizations for profit.

Advertisements:

Selective/Rare

Extensive

Examples:

Art Bulletin
Economic Journal
Journal of Marriage and the Family
Modern Fiction Studies

Ebony
Ms.
Newsweek
Parents