Scholarly or Popular?

Is an Article Scholarly or Popular?To pause the slide show, press the Escape (Esc) button on your keyboard

1What Features Do They Have in Common?

Both scholarly and popular articles are found in publications known as periodicalsThey have this name because they are usually published at regular intervals (i.e. within a specified period of time) They are bound together (or published online) with articles from other authors and relate to specific topic or field of study

Here are examples of covers of popular vs. scholarly periodicalsPopular MagazinesScholarly JournalsWhat Differences Can You Observe in Their Appearance?

Features of Popular (Magazine or Newspaper) Articles

A colorful presentation or advertisementsWritten by journalists, professional writers or staff writers for general audiences (in print or online)Little jargon or technical languageShorter articles than in professional journalsRarely include full citations to sources

Features of Scholarly Articles

Published in professional, research, or academic journals (either in print or online)

Rarely with colorful presentation or ads

Written by and for faculty, researchers, and scholars in a particular field of study; they often are affiliated with a research or academic institution

Formal, technical, or scientific language or jargon

More Features of Scholarly Articles

Results of a research project or study (often including methods and data)

Refereed or peer-reviewed (articles are evaluated by an editor and other specialists in a field before being accepted for publication)

Often lengthy listings of sources with full citations

Are all scholarly articles peer-reviewed?

Not necessarily!There are many examples of high-quality articles in professional journals which are not peer-reviewed

Examples of Non-Peer Reviewed Publications

Proceedings of conferences, working papers, bulletins and news publications of an organizationTrade Journalsauthors may be experts in a field but the articles usually are not peer-reviewedSome examples are:Accounting Education NewsCommunity College WeekChemical BusinessBulletin of the AAUP (American Association of University Professors)Bulletin of Mathematical Biology

Other Non-Peer Reviewed Articles

Book ReviewsEditorials Letters to the EditorEven though these types of articles often appear in scholarly journals, they are not peer-reviewed

How Do You find Scholarly Articles?

Individual articles may be available through public search engines like Yahoo or Google, HOWEVER--

The access provided by a college library or other institution is essential for finding large collections of articles online

Indexes/Databases list screen shot

On the Librarys Home page (library.ccp.edu), click on Indexes and Databases

Scroll down the alphabetical list of databases and click on EBSCOhost

Select a database or database group; for example: Academic Search Complete

Enter your search terms and limits on the search screen to find scholarly articles

Other Considerations

Both magazine and journal articles can be good sources for your workWhen selecting articles, think about how you intend to use the information:Do you want background on a topic new to you?(use magazines)Did your teacher say to citescholarlyresources?(use academic journals)Often a combination of the two will be most effective for undergraduate research

Online ResourcesFor additional information, consult the CCP Library Guides for:EBSCOHostCiting SourcesIs a Publication Scholarly? These and other guides are available under at: http://library.ccp.edu

16Research Assistance

Professional librarians are available to work with you during regular library hours:

call: 215-751-8394 or use Meebo (live text chatduring regular library hours) Attend a Walk-in session for a one-on-one tutorial http://www.ccp.edu/vpacaff/library/walkin.pdfUse the Ask-aLibrarian Service (after hours to e-mail your question) http://www.ccp.edu/vpacaff/library/reffaq.htm-OR-

For more information , see the Library Services module

CREDITSPortions of this presentation were adapted from:University of Arizona Library, Popular vs. Scholarly Articles Guide (http://www.library.arizona.edu/help/tutorials/scholarly/guide.html)

Vanderbilt University Scholarly vs. Popular tutorial [http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/peabody/tutorials/scholarlyfree/

California State University, Fullerton, Guide on using historical sources, (http://guides.library.fullerton.edu/historians_toolbox/unit4/tutorial1/u4t1p4scholarly.htm)