At McFarlin Library we've observed confusion among some students about the difference between scholarly or academic sources of information and popular sources. For example, professors generally want to see that you've utilized scholarly materials, such as articles published in academic journals, when researching for papers or other assignments, so understanding the distinction is important. The grid on the right briefly summarizes some of the things to look for when you're trying to determine if an article you've found (either in print or from an online source) is scholarly or popular in nature.
If you're still not sure, even after consulting the grid, then just ask a librarian.
|
Criteria |
Scholarly Journals |
Popular Magazines |
|
Format/Style: |
Serious/Formal |
Many visuals/Informal |
|
Graphics: |
Contains graphs, tables, and charts with few photographs |
Contains photographs, illustrations, and other colorful graphics |
|
Sources/Documentation: |
Sources cited with footnotes and/or bibliographies |
Citations or bibliography rarely provided and original sources can be obscure |
|
Authors/Audience |
Identified Scholars or researchers in the field or discipline; intended for scholars or researchers in respective field or discipline |
Not always identified Publication’s staff or journalists; intended for a broad audience |
|
Language: |
Uses terminology or jargon specific to respective discipline |
Simple; easily understood |
|
Purpose/Scope: |
Informs, reports or makes available original research or experimentation |
Entertains or persuades and occasionally utilized to sell products or services |
|
Publishers: |
Published by an academic press or professional organization |
Published by commercial/trade organizations for profit. |
|
Advertisements: |
Selective/Rare |
Extensive |
|
Examples: |
Art Bulletin |
Ebony |
Adapted from: Kennedy, Mary Lynch and William J. Kennedy, eds. “Chapter Nine: Writing Research Papers.” Writing in the Disciplines: A Reader and Rhetoric for Academic Writers. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. 286-332.
