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CHS 101: Family Studies: What is a Scholarly Journal?

Is My Article From A Scholarly Journal?

Journal articles are important sources of information in the Human Services field. Scholarly, or academic journals are found in our databases along with magazine and newspaper articles. You can distinguish scholarly articles from "popular" articles by understanding the differences in audience, purpose, writing style and other features listed in the box on the right. 

Look closely at the article you've selected. What are the author's credentials and affiliations? Is the language easily understandable to most readers, or does it have some terminology that is specialized to the field? How long is the article? Are there references at the end? These are just a few of the clues that will help you determine if your article is scholarly.

Issues Presentations Readings

Here is a link to the readings for this assignment. Print versions of the readings are available at the library's Circulation Desk.

What is a Scholarly Journal?

Scholarly Journals

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE

SCHOLARLY JOURNALS POPULAR MAGAZINES
These periodicals are called:
  • Journals
  • Scholarly journals
  • Peer reviewed journals
  • Refereed journals
  • Magazines
  • Digests
Their intended audience is:
  • Scholars within one academic discipline
  • Subject specialists
  • The general reader
  • A specific demographic group
  • Enthusiasts or hobbyists with common interests
They publish:
  • Original scholarly research including abstracts, methodology, conclusions and cited references
  • Discussions of current topics within an academic discipline
  • Articles related to the theme of the magazine
  • News oriented articles
  • First person accounts
  • Articles summarizing current research for an average reader
Published articles must:
  • Be submitted by recognized scholars in the field
  • Pass a rigorous review by a panel of subject experts
  • Meet strict guidelines for format and content
  • Written by a magazine’s own staff writers
  • Submitted by freelance writers
  • Generally checked for factual accuracy
  • Edited for style, grammar, and punctuation
They include:
  • Advertisements for other scholarly publications, scholarly conferences or professional products
  • Illustrations or photographs that enhance the understanding of an article
  • Vast quantities of glossy advertisements
  • Eye catching illustrations and photographs
  • Visual effects to grab a reader’s attention
They are published by:
  • Scholarly or professional associations or societies
  • Universities or research institutions
  • Corporate conglomerates
  • Commercial publishers
  • Special interest groups

EXAMPLES OF SCHOLARLY JOURNALS AND POPULAR MAGAZINES

SCHOLARLY JOURNALS POPULAR MAGAZINES
American Journal of Psychology Psychology Today
Women’s Studies Quarterly Ladies Home Journal
Science Scientific American
Annals of the American Association of Geographers National Geographic
Journal of American History Time
Journal of Marriage and the Family Family Circle
JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Health
Child Development Parents