Popular Articles (Magazines)
- Written by journalists or laypersons
- Edited by one or a few people who work for the magazine
- Has very few references with incomplete citations
- Written for a general audience and an average reader
- Contain general information and current events
- Usually are full of colorful images and ads
- Are usually shorter in length
Scholarly Articles (Journals)
- Written by experts in the field; i.e. scholars, professors, or researchers
- Edited by an editorial board composed of scholars in the field who referee or peer review the article
- Include references and full citations
- Written for experts and scholars in the field
- Language tends to be more scholarly or technical
- Specialized research topics
- Are usually longer in length
Both types of articles can be useful in your research depending on how you intend to use them.
- Magazines are a great way to find out general background information on a topic.
- Journals should be used for articles that require a scholarly resource.
