Scholarly (Academic) vs Popular Articles
When researching a topic, you’ll encounter two main types of articles: scholarly and popular. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right sources for your needs.
| Criteria | Journal – Scholarly (Academic) | Magazine – Popular |
|---|---|---|
| Contents | Detailed report of original research | Commentary about the original research (experiment or event) by someone who was not involved in the research or present at the event. May include personal narrative, opinion or anecdotes |
| Author | Credentials provided: professional degree (Ph.D, MD) and institutional affiliation. Usually a scholar with subject expertise | May or may not be named; often a journalist or professional writer. Subject expertise not required |
| Audience | Scholars, researchers and students | General public |
| Language | Specialized terminology and field-specific jargon | Everyday language understandable to most readers |
| Layout | Highly structured: objectives, methodology, results, analysis, conclusion, and bibliography | Informal: colorful, attractive typography and formatting, illustrations or photographs, designed to attract a general audience |
| References | Extensive reference list always present; all facts can be verified | Often absent; if present, few in number |
| Professional Review | Mandatory peer review by an editorial board of field experts before publication | Reviewed by the magazine’s editors, who may not have subject expertise |
| Examples | Developmental Psychology, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), American Journal of Political Science | Scientific American, Psychology Today, U.S. News and World Report, Business Week |