How to Evaluate a Periodical

When trying to decide whether a particular title is a professional journal or a popular magazine, consider some of these points:

Scholarly Research Professional/ Specialized Interest Substantive General Interest Popular, Wide Audience Sensational Press
Examples Harvard Educational Review; American Journal of Sociology Step-By-Step Graphics; Fine Homebuilding; American Craft; Journal of Accountancy The Economist; New York Times; Psychology Today Family Circle; Sports Illustrated; Readers Digest; Bicycling; Entertainment Weekly The Globe; The Tattler; National Enquirer
What is "the look"? Sober, serious. Lots of tables. Few, if any, pictures. Can be attractive, glossy. Often well illustrated with photos, diagrams, etc. Attractive, glossy. Often illustrated with photos. Attractive. Slick, lots of pictures and advertisements Style may vary, but often newspaper format
How carefully is it documented? Always has footnotes or bibliography May cite sources, but often recounts experience or practice Sometimes will cite sources Rarely cites sources No citations. Repeats rumor.
Who wrote the article? A scholar or researcher, often with an institutional affiliation Often a practicing professional in the field Sometimes a scholar, but also staff and freelance writers Staff or freelance writers; sometimes a well-known person not necessarily expert in the field Staff or freelance writers
Who is the audience? Others in the field. Language is scholarly and subject specific. Professionals and others in the field; language can be technical. Any educated audience; language can be technical. General audience. Simple language. Articles short and lacking depth. Those seeking humor or entertainment
Who publishes the periodical? Usually a professional organization or university A commercial publisher or professional organization A commercial publisher or professional organization Commercial publisher Commercial publisher
What is the purpose? To report original research or experimentation Share expertise or professional practice To provide information to a broad audience of interested readers To entertain, to sell, and/or promote a viewpoint Arouse curiosity and entertain

These three library reference books may help you characterize whether or not something is a journal or magazine:

    Magazines for Libraries. (Bill & Linda Katz, eds.) Reference 016.05 K159m
    Serials for Libraries. (John Ganly). Reference 011.02 G1555S
    Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory. Reference Desk 011.02 Ulrichs

If you're still uncertain, always ask your instructor whether he or she considers a particular journal "scholarly."

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Last modified: Tuesday, May 25, 2004.