Help: Research Strategy and Process: Evaluating Research Materials:  

---

Distinguishing Scholarly From Non-Scholarly Periodicals:
A Checklist of Criteria

Journals and magazines are important sources for up-to-date information in all disciplines. With a periodical collection as large and diverse as Cornell's it is often difficult to distinguish between the various levels of scholarship found in the collection. In this guide we have divided periodical literature into four categories:

• Scholarly
• Substantive News or General Interest
• Popular
• 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:

- American Economic Review

- Archives of Sexual Behavior

- JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association

- Journal of Marriage and the Family

- Modern Fiction Studies

- Sex Roles: A Journal of Research

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, a scholar or a free lance writer.
• The language of these publications is geared to any educated audience. There is no special training assumed, only interest and a certain level of intelligence.
• They are generally published by commerical enterprises or individuals, although some emanate from specific professional organizations.
• The main purpose of periodicals in this category is to provide information, in a general manner, to a broad audience of concerned citizens.
• Examples of substantive news or general interest periodicals:

-Christian Science Monitor

- Economist

- National Geographic

- New York Times

- Scientific American

- Vital Speeches of the Day

Popular

• Popular periodicals come in many formats, although they are often somewhat slick and attractive in appearance. Lots of graphics (photographs, drawings, etc.)
• These 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 members or free-lance 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 styles, but often use a newspaper format.
• The language is elementary and occasionally inflammatory or sensational. They assume a certain gullibility in their audience.
• The main purpose of sensational 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").
• Examples of Sensational Periodicals:

- Globe

- National Examiner

- Star

- Weekly World News

---

Please note: There are reference books which attempt to describe and evaluate periodical titles. If you need further information about an individual title we suggest you consult:

Katz, Bill, and Linda Sternberg Katz. Magazines for Libraries. 9th ed. NewYork: Bowker, 1997. (Available in the reference sections of Olin and Uris Libraries.)