Your instructor may require that you use a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal for your assignment. Peer-reviewed means that the articles have been screened by other scholars in the field who are qualified to judge its merit.
The table below presents a comparison of magazines and journals. These features are evident when you are viewing articles in PDF or in print. For articles displayed in HTML, please consult your instructor or a librarian. You will also find a description of the publication in question in the Ulrich's Periodicals Directory.
Feature | Magazine | Journal |
|---|---|---|
Examples | Animal Behaviour, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Social Science and Medicine | |
Advertising | Highly visible, glossy, and eye-catching | Advertising, if any, is usually professional and related to the field |
Articles | Author(s) of the article are not always apparent | Author(s) pf the article always prominent |
Audience | General public, hobbyists, or fans | Targeted audience of scholars or professionals |
Authors | Authors are generalists, staff writers, or freelance writers | Authors are experts in their fields, either professional practitioners or university scholars |
Citations | Sources of information are not fully cited and do not include a bibliography, footnotes, or endnotes | Sources are always fully cited, footnotes or endnotes are always provided |
Format | Informal, conversational style is used to engage the audience | Formal structure often used, with a standard bibliographic citation style |
Frequency | Usually weekly or monthly | Usually monthly or quarterly |
Publisher | Published commercially | Often published by a university or professional association |
Purpose | To provide news or entertainment | To present new research findings to professionals or scholars in their field of study |
Review Policy | Articles selected by an editor or editorial board | Articles are "peer-reviewed," or selected by a panel of experts |
Style | Common vernacular is used | Specialized or technical language of the field is used |