(Adapted with permission from Cornell University Library’s online tutorial: Research Strategy “Distinguishing Scholarly from non-Scholarly Periodicals” hccp://campusgw.library.cornell.edu/newhelp/newhelp.html)
Primary Sources: Scholarly peer reviewed journals |
Secondary Sources: Substantive professional and trade publications |
Other: Popular magazines |
| Main Purpose: Present original research or experimentation to the scholarly community. Constitute the primary resources of science research.
Example: About Agronomy Journal informational page. |
Main Purpose: Provide information; report on developments and trends in various fields or industries.
Example: About Spudman informational page. Example: any article from Annual Review of… |
Main Purpose: Entertainment, sell products of their advertisers, and/or promote a viewpoint |
| Refereed or peer-reviewed:a panel of experts evaluates the article prior to publication for scientific content and procedure.
Example: About Agronomy Journal informational page. |
Not peer-reviewed | Not peer-reviewed |
| Articles are written by a scholar of researcher in the field.
Example: Article from Agronomy Journal Note: information about the authors usually appears on the first page of the article. |
Articles may be written by a scholar/researcher, but also by journalists, free-lance writers, editorial staff, extension staff
Example: selected article Spudman Example: any article from Scientific American |
Articles written by staff members or free-lance writers. |
| Generally have a sober, serious look. Articles follow the formal scientific format: abstract, introduction, methods, results, conclusion, references.
Example: Article from Agronomy Journal |
May be quite attractive, but some may be in newspaper format. Articles often have many illustrations, photographs. Sometimes scientific format is followed, but not usually.
Example: selected article Spudman Example: any article from Scientific American |
Come in many formats, but are usually glossy, colorful, with flashy covers and photos. |
| Language is that of the discipline; assumes scholarly background on the part of the reader.
Example: Article from Agronomy Journal |
Language is geared to any educated audience member, although a certain level of interest and intelligence is assumed
Example: selected article Spudman Example: selected article from Agricultural Research Magazine Example: selected extension publication |
Articles usually are short, written in simple language, and designed to meet a minimal education level |
| Sources are always reference in footnotes and/or bibliographies
Example: Article from Agronomy Journal |
Sources sometimes are referenced, but many times are not.
Example: selected article Spudman Selected Extension publication Example: selected article from Agricultural Research Magazine Example: selected extension publication |
Rarely reference sources: information is often second or third-hand; original source is manytimes obscure. |
| Usually published by scholarly societies, or research oriented commercial publishers. | Generally published by commercial enterprises, individuals, professional organizations including state Extension Publications. | Generally published by commercial enterprises. |
| Subscription is usually necessary, sometimes a VERY expensive subscription. | If subscription is required, the cost is usually reasonable. | If subscription is necessary, the cost is usually reasonable. |
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