What is a peer-reviewed article or journal?
Peer-reviewed means that articles before publication go through a rigorous process of review by experts in that subject field. This is to ensure that the articles meet the standards of that discipline. After the articles have been peer-reviewed, they are published in peer-reviewed journals.
Is peer-reviewed the same as the term refereed?
Yes, more or less. The review process by publication experts is different for each one.
What is a periodical?
The term periodical can apply to any journal, magazine, or newspaper that is published at regularly occurring intervals.
What is a scholarly journal?
A scholarly journal is a scholarly publication with multiple articles that is often subject specific or has a specific audience. Sometimes referred to as a periodical, because they are published at regularly occurring intervals.
What is a trade journal?
A trade journal is written by experts in a specific industry that discusses news, trends, and opinions. They are not scholarly journals because they are not peer-reviewed.
Scholarly Journals | Popular Magazines | |
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Authors | Articles are written by authorities in the field | Articles are usually written by professional writers or journalists |
Sources | Authors cite their sources in endnotes, footnotes, or bibliographies | There are rarely bibliographies |
Audience | Aimed at scholarly readers (researchers, professors, or students) | Aimed at general population |
Publisher | Often published by academic or association presses | Published by commercial (for profit) presses |
Advertisements | Contains few to no advertisements | Contain numerous advertisements |
Peer-review? | Most articles are reviewed by an author’s peers before publication to ensure high quality | Rare |
Article scope | Journals usually have a narrow subject focus, and articles often include original research, reviews, or essays | Used to inform, update, or introduce a topic to a general reader |
Graphics | Illustrations often consist of charts or graphs | Numerous colorful illustrations and/or photographs are usually present |
Language | Articles use jargon of the discipline | Language is geared to general population; no special knowledge is required |
Examples | American Journal of Botany, The Academy of Management Journal, Social Research | Runner's World, Ebony, Time |
If you have a journal or article and you need to check if it is peer reviewed, use the Ulrich's Periodical Directory database.