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FYS Hula Hoops, Hot Wheels and Hopscotch: American History and the Material Culture of Childhood

CRED

C - Creator

R - Resource

E - Errors/Accuracy

D - Date

 

Scholarly vs. Popular vs. Trade Publications

How can you tell the difference between SCHOLARLY JOURNAL ARTICLES, POPULAR NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES, and TRADE PUBLICATION MAGAZINES? Here is a table with some key differences.

 

SCHOLARLY

Image result for journal of education

POPULAR

Image result for time magazine

TRADE

Image result for OT practice magazine
CONTENT
  • Academic research
  • Academic reviews
  • Language is formal and can include field jargon
  • Articles are often lengthy
  • Popular culture Info
  • Current events/ news
  • Language is usually more informal
  • Articles tend to be shorter
  • Industry/field news
  • Professional interest articles
  • Language is heavy on professional jargon though usually not as formal as a scholarly article
  • Articles are short
INTENDED AUDIENCE
  • Scholars
  • Researchers
  • Undergraduate/Graduate Students
  •  General public
  • Industry/Field Professionals 
REFERENCES/CITED SOURCES
  • Always listed and usually extensive
  • Scientific journals include original research info/data
  • Never (though sources are often quoted within the text)
  • Sometimes listed but not extensive research cited
AUTHOR/S
  • Scholars/Researchers  
  • Usually journalists
  • Sometimes scholars or professionals
  • Usually working professionals (teachers, therapists, etc.) 
  • Sometimes scholars within the field
REVIEW POLICY
  • "Peer-reviewed" by an editorial board of scholars in particular field
  • Editorial staff, usually made up of journalists
  • Editorial staff, usually made up of professionals
PICTURES/ADS
  • Most visuals are graphs or charts with data
  • Some will have a small picture or two but typically have none
  • Usually no or few ads
  • Frequently contain glossy ads 
  • Contain large and numerous pictures to accompany articles
  • Frequently contain advertisements and some pictures to accompany articles (though not as many as in a popular magazine or newspaper)
EXAMPLES
  • The American Journal of Psychology
  • The Journal of Asian Studies
  • Journal of Academic Librarianship
  • Occupational Therapy in Mental Health
  • American Music
  • Time
  • Rolling Stone
  • Scientific American
  • Consumer Reports
  • The New York Times
  • OT Practice Magazine
  • College and Research Libraries News
  • NEA (National Education Association) Today Magazine
  • Billboard