Periodical Articles
One of the most important sources of information for research is articles from periodicals. Periodicals are sources that come out on a regular schedule--newspapers, magazines, journals.
An important distinction college students should learn is the difference between magazines and journals.
 Popular Magazines |
 Scholarly Journals |
|
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Written for the "average" person who doesn't have in-depth knowledge of a topic. | Aimed at professionals, researchers or others with more in-depth knowledge of the topic. |
| Content | Entertainment, opinion, current topics, quick facts. | Research, analysis, scholarship. Often includes abstract, research methods, conclusion, bibliography. |
| Length | Shorter articles providing broad overviews of topics. | Longer articles providing in-depth analysis of topics.* |
| Look | Glossy, color pictures, advertisements. | "Serious" looking, usually with fewer illustrations and advertisements. |
| Author | Author is usually a staff writer or journalist. The author's name is often not provided. | Authors are usually experts, often university researchers. Authors' credentials are usually included. |
| Credibility | Articles are generally evaluated by staff editors rather than experts in the field. | Research articles must be reviewed by a "jury" of experts before they are published. Sometimes referred to as "peer-reviewed" or "refereed."* |
| Examples | Newsweek, Time, Vogue, Psychology Today, Discover | Journal of American History, Science, Foreign Affairs |
Online journal articles:
The full text for many periodical articles is available from online indexes and databases. In electronic format, it's more difficult to distinguish between magazines and journals. Here are some features to look for when reviewing online journal articles:
- Authors credentials are given.
- Articles are usually longer.
- Bibliographies or references are listed.
- Charts and graphs are frequently included.
*Note: Not everything in a journal is considered a "journal article" or a "research article." Journals often include book reviews, editorials, and news updates, etc. that do not qualify.
