Many instructors require the use of scholarly articles in research papers. Scholarly articles are found in peer-reviewed, or refereed, journals. Such journals have editorial boards of experts who accept or reject articles for publication. Therefore, the articles are considered high quality and represent important research in a given field.
Articles from popular magazines do not include the same level of research and are not reviewed in the same way. They often contain stories of interest to a wider audience.
In addition to popular and scholarly sources, you will find trade journals (practical information for professionals) and journals of opinion (information expressing a given viewpoint).
| Authors | Editors | Audience | Language | Sources | Advertising | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journalists | On staff | General public | Non-technical, brief |
Quotes and facts often attributed in text; citations rare |
Common, diverse | New York Times, Globe & Mail, (Toronto, CA), Chicago Tribune |
| Authors | Editors | Audience | Language | Sources | Advertising | Examples |
| Journalists | On staff | General public | Non-technical, consumer-focused |
Quotes and facts often attributed in text; citations rare |
Common, diverse | Entertainment Weekly, Time, Good Housekeeping |
| Authors | Editors | Audience | Language | Sources | Advertising | Examples |
| Practitioners in field | On staff | General public | Moderately technical vocabulary |
Quotes and facts often attributed in text; citations rare |
Selective, industry-focused |
Brandweek, Restaurant Business, Architect, Automotive Industries |
| Authors | Editors | Audience | Language | Sources | Advertising | Examples |
| Scholars, researchers, experts in field | Referees/ Peer Reviewers | Scholars, researchers, experts in field | Academic language and tone; technical vocabulary |
Bibliographies and reference lists; footnotes and in-text citations |
Rare, focused on related journals and conferences | Journal of African American Studies, Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Active Learning in Higher Education |