Scholarly vs Popular
University of Texas Libraries [utlibraries]. (2011. October 17). Peer reivew demystified (Tip Jar) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=70&v=eyEhjP2B3LQ
To find out whether an article would be considered scholarly, look up the journal in library database Ulrich’s Periodical Directory. Search by journal title (not by article) and look for the refereed icon: 
. Also look for “Journal” under Serial Type and “Academic / Scholarly” under Content Type.
The table at the bottom notes typical attributes of popular and scholarly articles, although you may find exceptions.
- Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory This link opens in a new window
Provides publication information for magazines, journals, newsletters, newspapers, and other periodicals. Coverage is international in scope
|
Popular |
Scholarly / Academic |
|
|
Author(s) |
professional writers or journalists |
researchers and experts in a field |
|
Audience |
general public |
students, faculty, and other scholars |
|
Reading level / language |
easily understood by most adult readers |
technical, discipline-specific; often difficult to understand by readers new or unfamiliar with the field |
|
Topic focus |
news and current events, popular culture, etc. |
targeted research |
|
Length |
short, e.g. 1-5 pages |
longer, e.g. 10-20 pages |
|
Appearance |
glossy pages with photos and full-color illustrations |
graphics limited to tables, charts, and scientific illustrations |
|
References |
few to none |
full list of citations for sources used |
|
Review process prior to publishing |
reviewed by editors |
peer-reviewed (“refereed”) by other experts in the field |
|
Note: Book reviews and editorials, regardless of source, are not usually considered scholarly. |
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