Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines: 
What's the difference?

SCHOLARLY POPULAR

Bibliographies or list of references are
included

 Usually DO NOT have bibliographies or lists of references

Authors are experts

 Authors are often generalists

Articles are signed by the authors

 Articles are sometimes unsigned

Audience is the scholarly reader such as professors, researchers, students

 Audience is the general population

Standardized formats are usually followed, such as APA, MLA, etc.

 Use various formats, which are often unstructured

Written in the jargon of the field

 Written for anyone to understand

Any illustrations support the text, such as maps, tables, photographs

 Often profusely illustrated for marketing appeal

Journal may have a serious, somber appearance, with few bright colors

 May have a bright, attractive cover, with many glossy pictures

 

 

Created October 2009 and modified from a handout created by the University of Michigan and from a figure published by Kim N. Cook, Lilith R. Kunkel and Susan M. Weaver.  "Cooperative Learning in Bibliographic Instruction."  Research Strategies"  Winter 1995: 17-25.


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