Evaluating Periodicals
What's a Periodical?
Definitions
- Journals
- A periodical containing scholarly articles or disseminating current information on research and development in a particular subject field
- Main purpose is to report on original research
- Intended for a more limited (academic) audience
- Articles usually include bibliographies
- The words 'journal,' 'transactions,' proceedings,' or 'quarterly' may appear in the title
- Magazines
- A periodical for general reading, containing articles on various subjects by different authors
- Short articles, often not signed by the author
- Non-technical, popular writing style, easy to understand
- Focus on current events
- Usually published daily, weekly or monthly
- Newspapers
- Usually published daily, semi-weekly or weekly
- Short articles that report news events; little analysis
- Usually in a large format
These definitions are based on the American Library Association's ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science
How to Identify a Scholarly (peer reviewed) Journal
Scholarly, |
Professional, |
General Interest, |
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Format |
formal |
varies |
informal |
Graphics |
illustrate content regardless of appearance |
varies - often limited |
enhance appearance or illustrate content |
Sources |
sources cited; footnotes or bibliographies |
sources occasionally cited |
sources occasionally are named; no footnotes or bibliography |
Authors |
scholars and researchers in a particular subject field |
members or staff of a professional organization |
staff of publication or free-lance writers |
Language |
formal, technical jargon/terminology; |
often informal knowledge of jargon assumed |
often informal; jargon seldom used, always explained |
Purpose |
to publish the results of research |
to inform members of a profession or trade |
to inform and entertain the general public |
Publisher |
professional organizations |
professional organizations |
commercial, for-profit, enterprises |
Advertising |
very little, selective advertising |
selective advertising aimed at members of trade or profession |
extensive advertising |
Examples |
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