Scholarly Sources: Home

Journals and magazines are important sources for up-to-date information in all disciplines. Because we get many different types of periodicals, it can be difficult to distinguish between the various levels of scholarship found in the collection. In this guide, the criteria for periodical literature is divided into four categories:

1) Scholarly, 2) Substantive News or General Interest, 3) Popular, and 4) Sensational.

DEFINITIONS

Webster’s Third International Dictionary defines “scholarly” as: 1) concerned with academic study, especially research, 2) exhibiting the methods and attitudes of a scholar, and 3) having the manner and appearance of a scholar.

“Substantive” is defined as “having a solid base, being substantial.”

“Popular” means “fit for, or reflecting the taste and intelligence of the people at large.”

“Sensational” is defined as “arousing or intending to arouse strong curiosity, interest or reaction.”

Keeping these definitions in mind, and realizing that none of the lines drawn between types of journals can ever be totally clear cut, we can say that in general the criteria are as follows:

SCHOLARLY

Scholarly journals generally have a sober, serious look. They often contain many graphs and charts but few glossy pages or exciting pictures.

Scholarly journals always cite their sources in the form of footnotes or bibliographies.

Articles are written by a scholar in the field or by someone who has done research in the field.
The language of scholarly journals is that of the discipline covered. It assumes some scholarly background on the part of the reader.

The main purpose of a scholarly journal is to report on
original research or experimentation in order to make such information available to the rest of the scholarly world.

Many scholarly journals, though by no means all, are
published by a specific professional organization.

EXAMPLES OF SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
College English
Contemporary Literature
JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of Black Psychology
Psychological Bulletin

SUBSTANTIVE NEWS OR GENERAL INTEREST

These periodicals may be quite attractive in appearance, although some are in newspaper format. Articles are often heavily illustrated, generally with photographs.

News and general interest periodicals sometimes cite sources, though more often do not.

Articles may be written by a member of the editorial staff, a scholar or a freelance writer.

The language of these publications is geared to any educated audience. There is no specialty assumed, only interest and certain level of intelligence.

They are generally published by commercial enterprises or individuals, although some emanate from specific
professional organizations.

The main purpose of a periodical in this category is to provide information, in a general manner, to a broad audience of concern citizens.

EXAMPLES OF SUBSTANTIVE NEWS OR GENERAL
INTEREST PERIODICALS
Economist
National Geographic
New York times
Scientific American
Vital Speeches of the Day

POPULAR

Popular periodicals come in many formats, although often somewhat slick and attractive in appearance. They include lots of graphics (photographs, drawings, etc.).

The publications rarely, if ever, cite sources.

Information published in such journals is often second or third hand and the original source is sometimes obscure.

Articles are usually very short, written in simple language and are designed to meet a minimal education level. There is generally little depth to the content of these articles.

Articles are written by staff member or freelance writers.

The main purpose of popular periodicals is to entertain the reader, to sell products (their own or their advertisers’), and/or to promote a viewpoint.

EXAMPLES OF POPULAR PERIODICALS
Ebony
Parents
People Weekly
Reader’s Digest
Sports Illustrated
Time
Vogue

SENSATIONAL

Sensational periodicals come in a variety of style, but often use a newspaper format.

Their language is elementary and occasionally inflammatory or sensational.

They assume a certain gullibility in their audience.

The main purpose of sensation magazines seems to be to arouse curiosity and to cater to popular superstitions.

They often do so with flashy headlines designed to astonish (e.g.,“Half-man Half-woman Makes Self Pregnant”).

Most libraries do not subscribe to sensational periodicals.

EXAMPLES OF SENSATIONAL PERIODICALS
Globe
National Examiner
Star
Weekly World News