ENGL 102: Men, S. - Spark Grant Project: Tips for recognizing and reading scholarly sources
This library research guide provides starting points for research and information for the Spark Grant Project and annotated bibliography.
How to recognize differences between scholarly, trade, and popular articles
How to read a scholarly journal article
Comparing scholarly vs. popular sources
So what is the difference between scholarly vs. popular sources?
| Scholarly Journals | Popular Magazines | |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarly or popular? | Scholarly. Also known as academic, peer-reviewed, refereed | Popular |
| At a glance | These journal articles often feature the results of scientific or academic research. They are written for scholars and provide in-depth analysis of a specific area of study. | Good for summarizing information on a topic for the general public. They often provide some background, briefly summarize research findings, and provide some lay analysis of a topic, often with the intent to show the public how it applies to their lives. |
| Examples |  |
 |
| Appearance | Often have a sober, serious look. May contain graphs and charts, but few glossy pages or photographs. Use scholarly language with vocabulary specific to their field. | Generally glossy with attractive color photographs and other images |
| Purpose | Written for researchers, scholars and professionals interested in the same field of study. | Written for the general public,with the intent to inform, but also to entertain |
| Authority | Written by experts in the field, often reporting the results and conclusions of research they conducted. There is frequently more than one author. | Written by magazine staff or freelance writers |
| Accountability | Articles are evaluated by peer-reviewers, or referees who are experts in the field; edited for accuracy, content, format, and style | Articles are evaluated by editorial staff, not experts in the field; edited for format and style |
| Citations/references | Contains footnotes/lengthy citations at the end of the work, citing the works of others used by the author. | Citations are often absent or if present, informally referenced in the body of the text |
| Frequency | May be published monthly, quartely, or yearly | Usually published weekly or monthly |
| Potential uses | Statistical information; research findings to 'prove' or 'disprove' a notion; cause and effect analysis; deep understanding of a narrow aspect of your topic | Gain a basic understanding of a current topic, as it is happening; understand how it applies to people directly; gain an understanding of the popular perception of a topic. |
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