How to Tell the Difference Between Scholarly and Popular Journal Articles in a Database
When you are searching in a database you may need to tell the difference between citations from popular magazine articles and scholarly articles.
The databases we have at Waubonsee usually have a checkbox on the screen which allows you to limit your search to peer-reviewed/scholarly articles. When you use this option, the database will only return citations of articles from peer-reviewed journals. However, not all articles in peer-reviewed journals are scholarly. You might see citations to short book reviews, letters, or editorials.
Here is table that can help you differentiate between Scholarly and Popular Articles:
|
Feature |
Peer Reviewed Articles (Scholarly) |
Popular Articles |
|
Audience |
Academic community (researchers, scholars, students) |
General public |
|
Author |
Experts in the field with credentials like PhDs |
Journalists, writers for general audience |
|
Purpose |
To present original research findings, new theories, and in-depth analysis |
To inform, entertain, or provide a general overview of a topic |
|
Language |
Specialized terminology, jargon specific to the field |
Everyday language, accessible to a wide audience |
|
Citations |
Extensive list of references to support claims |
May include limited or no citations |
|
Review Process |
Peer-reviewed by other experts in the field |
Edited by publication staff |
|
Structure |
Well-organized with sections like introduction, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion |
May have a more flexible structure depending on the publication |
|
Examples |
"Journal of the American Medical Association", "Nature", "Psychological Science" |
"Time Magazine", "Newsweek", "Cosmopolitan" |
