SCHOLARLY JOURNALS | POPULAR MAGAZINES |
Published by a University, Institution, Association, or Society. | Published by a commercial publishing house or business. |
Original reporting of research. | Secondary reporting of research. |
| Research articles follow scientific method (hypothesis, experiment which gathers empirical evidence, results, discussion, conclusion). | Articles do not follow format for the scientific method. |
Articles have bibliographies. | Articles have no or very brief
bibliographies. |
| Audience is academics, scholars, researchers. | Audience is general public. Information is synthesized from the scholarly journals and repackaged for the layman. |
Exist to communicate research information to others in a particular area of study or interest. | Exist to both entertain and inform. May have many different topics covered. Profit motive. |
| Contain little or no advertising. | Contain conspicuous advertising. |
Lengthy articles with in-depth analysis. | Articles often short. |
| Available mainly by subscription and may be very expensive. | Available on newsstands and by subscription. Usually quite inexpensive. |
| Peer Reviewed by panel of acknowledged experts in the field, or editorial review board. | May not have a peer review process or list an editorial board. |
| Vocabulary is advanced and specific to the field. | Vocabulary is designed to be understood by a layman. |
Articles signed by author and author's academic credentials are given. | Articles may not be signed by author. If signed, credentials may not be given. |
| Plain looking - few, if any photographs or diagrams. | Often glossy looking to attract attention. Very visual. |
| May describe process for submitting articles. | Usually doesn't describe process for submitting articles. |
