How can you tell if an article or journal is scholarly, professional, or something else?
Ulrich's Directory
You can check the journal's home page, or search Ulrich's Directory for an indication that the journal is peer reviewed:
- Enter the journal name
-
Look for the black and white symbol indicating the journal is "refereed"
, another way of saying "peer reviewed".
Types of Periodicals Chart
| Scholarly, Academic, Peer-reviewed, Research | |
| Contents: | Scholarly/research articles describe primary research, using scientific methods such as statistical tests. |
| Sources: | Scholarly/research articles include summaries of existing research, and are fully documented (footnotes, reference lists, etc...) |
| Language: | Scholarly/research articles use academic or technical terms, written for other scholars/researchers |
| Authors: | Professionals in the field, professors, scientists |
| Published by: | Universities, scholarly presses, research organizations |
| Graphics: | Charts and graphs, formulas. Glossy ads are rare. |
| Where to search (Ask a Librarian for more info): | Compendex, Business Source Complete, CINAHL, PAIS, PsycInfo, Journals at Ovid |
| Examples: |
Cell
Journal of Marketing Research Social Psychology Quarterly |
| Professional, Trade and Industry Journals | |
| Contents: | Current industry, product and company info, management trends, new products, statistics, forecasts, interviews |
| Sources: | Occasional brief bibliographies or sources cited in the text |
| Language: | Written for practitioners, using extensive jargon of the profession |
| Authors: | Practitioners in the field, or specialized journalists, PR writers |
| Published by: | Commercial publishers, trade and professional associations |
| Graphics: | Photographs, charts, tables, glossy ads |
| Where to search (Ask a Librarian for more info): | Business Source Complete, ACM Digital Library, EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit), IEEEXplore, Nexis Uni (formerly LexisNexis) |
| Examples: |
Beverage World ENR HRMagazine Variety Pharmacy Times |
| Commentary and Opinion Magazines | |
| Contents: | Current views on social and political issues, opinionated, may be the voice of an activist organization, speeches, interviews |
| Sources: | Occasional brief bibliographies or sources cited in the text |
| Language: | Written for a general educated audience |
| Authors: | Extremely variable, some journalists, academics, pundits of all sorts |
| Published by: | Commercial publishers, nonprofits |
| Graphics: | Some advertising and graphics |
| Where to search (Ask a Librarian for more info): | Academic OneFile, Business Source Complete, Nexis Uni (formerly LexisNexis) |
| Examples: |
The Nation
National Review The New Republic |
| Popular Magazines and Newspapers | |
| Contents: | Current events, industry and leading company information, short articles, not much depth, interviews |
| Sources: | Rarely cite sources in full |
| Language: | Written for a general audience |
| Authors: | Specialized journalists |
| Published by: | Commercial publishers |
| Graphics: | Glossy ads, full color charts, pictures, tables |
| Where to search (Ask a Librarian for more info): | Business Source Complete, Nexis Uni (formerly LexisNexis), Health Reference Center |
| Examples: |
Newsweek
The Economist Boston Globe Fortune |