Library Guides: Introduction to Nursing Research: Identifiying Scholarly Articles

Scholarly Journals

Characteristics of scholarly journals:

also called peer-reviewed articles
tend to have lengthy articles (5-50 pages)
cover a single, very specific aspect of a subject area
include in-text citations and either footnotes or a lengthy list of Works Cited so that the reader can find the author's sources
are written for an academic or scholarly audience
use technical or specialized vocabulary
are written by academics, specialists, or researchers in the field
the author's name and academic credentials are usually included
include only charts, tables, or photographs that clarify the research
include very little advertising
are published between 2-12 times per year, most often quarterly

Characteristics of Trade Journals:

have articles of various lengths
include industry-specific news, commentary, and articles
may or may not include a short list of references
are written for an audience in a specific industry or field
use the technical vocabulary of the intended audience
may be written by either journalists or researchers
will probably include photographs or illustrations
include industry-specific advertising aimed at members of the intended audience
are published weekly or monthly to take advantage of changes in products or technology

Characteristics of Popular Magazines:

articles tend to be short (1-5 pages)
cover a variety of topic/ subject areas for a general audience
do not list any references or works cited
are intended for a non-academic, non-specialized audience
use conventional/ conversational language, as opposed to a specialized vocabulary
are written by journalists, rather than researchers or specialists in a given field
include photographs and illustrations
include extensive commercial advertising