Scholarly/ Peer Reviewed Materials vs Popular Materials
A scholarly (or academic) resource is one that is written by experts in the field for experts in the field. A popular resource is one that is written for the general public. Your local newspaper is an example of a popular resource.
Scholarly Journals
- Publication has a narrow scope or is limited to a specific field or sub-field of study; goal is to promote and disseminate scholarly research
- Intended for academic or specialized audiences such as professors, researchers, students
- Has tables and graphics
- Has references, bibliographies, notes and/or works cited included
- Has little or no advertising; included advertising promotes books, journals, conferences
- Has an author and author affiliations; authors are experts in their respective field
- Published by a scholarly press or professional organization (verify if/who is sponsoring the article)
- Editorial board of scholars in the field who review articles prior to publication in a process known as refereed or peer-review
- Tends to use complex language following the academic writing style, usually includes discipline-specific jargon or technical terms
Popular Materials
- Publication is designed for a broad, general audience; primary goal is to make a profit
- Does not require expertise in the field to understand the information; designed for the general population
- Usually has pictures and media included
- May have verified facts, but generally does not include references or bibliographies
- Usually has advertising
- May or may not have an author listed; authors are generalists, journalists, or freelance writers
- Usually published by a for-profit entity
- Editor is often a journalist who works for the publisher
- Usually uses simple and non-technical language
