When conducting research it is important to distinguish between journal articles and magazine articles. Journal articles are typically referred to as "scholarly," while magazine articles are usually considered "popular." A third category, "trade" magazines or journals, are written for professionals in a particular field but are not strictly research related. Below are additional criteria to consider when differentiating between journals and magazines.
| Criteria | Scholarly Journal | Popular Magazine | Trade Magazine/Journal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample Cover |  |
 |
 |
| Audience | Academics and professionals | General public | People in the business |
| Authors | Experts or specialists (PhD). Unpaid. | Journalists, staff writers, or freelance writers. Paid. | Staff writers, industry specialists, or vendor representatives. Paid. |
| Editorial Review | Journal editorial board and peer reviewers. Unpaid. | Professional editors. Paid. | Professional editors. Paid. |
| References / Works Cited | Almost always | Rarely | Sometimes |
| Example Journal | Journal of Food Science and Technology | Bon Appétit | Food Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stated Purpose | "Publishes peer reviewed research papers in... science, technology, packaging, and engineering of foods.... Special emphasis is given to fundamental and applied research...." | "Offers 'life through the lens of food' — cooking in, dining out, culture, travel, entertainment, shopping and design." | "Provides ideas for foodservice directors, managers and chefs through coverage of industry issues and events, operational topics and food trends that affect the noncommercial foodservice industry." |
| Example Article Title | "Optimization of the production of shrimp waste protein hydrolysate using microbial proteases adopting response surface methodology" | "In search of the perfect meatball" | "UCLA hospitals go to antibiotic-free meats" |
| Price | $436/year (6 issues) | $15/year (12 issues) | $80/year (12 issues) |
NCSU Libraries. (n.d). Scholary and Popular Materials. Retrieved from http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/tutorials/scholarly-popular/
A Yavapai College student explains the benefits of using library databases for research over searching the web.
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