Comparison Chart
Keeping in mind that the lines drawn between types of periodicals aren't always totally clear-cut, the general characteristics of these three categories of journals are summarized in the chart below:
Comparison chart: Periodicals - scholarly or non-scholarly?
| Characteristics | Scholarly | Non-Scholarly (general/substantive) | Non-Scholarly (popular) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authors | Scholars in the discipline or those who have done extensive research in the field such as university professors or government/research agencies or organizations | Written by magazine's staff (who may or may not be experts on the topic), scholars, or free-lance writers | Written by staff or free-lance writers employed by the publication |
| Language | Uses language of the discipline, which may be difficult to understand at first, because it may contain specialized, technical or professional language. | Uses language aimed at a general, educated audience | Uses everyday language, or even inflammatory or sensational language aimed at a broad-based audience |
| Sources | Authors rigorously cite sources in the form of footnotes or bibliographies | May quote other experts on the topic but not explain who they are, or give statistics or "facts", but not say where they came from | Rarely cites sources; original sources can be obscure |
| Purpose/Audience | Main purpose is to educate; to report on original research or experimentation in order to share with other scholars | Provides general information to a wide audience | Written to entertain, inform, or provoke a reaction |
| Publisher/Editorial Board | Many are published by a specific professional organization. Editorial board evaluates the article for its quality of writing, rigorous scholarship, analysis, or research and findings before accepting them for publication. | Generally published by commercial enterprises for profit. May have editorial staff employed by the publisher. | Published by commercial enterprises for profit |
| Peer-Reviewed or Referreed | Have a process prior to publishing an article whereby other scholars in the author's field or specialty critically assess article draft. | Not peer-reviewed or refereed | Not peer-reviewed or refereed |