Characteristics of scholarly journals
Check this chart for information about scholarly journal characteristics.
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Authors |
Articles are written by authorities in the field |
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Sources |
Authors cite their sources in endnotes, footnotes, or bibliographies |
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Audience |
Aimed at scholarly readers (researchers, professors, or students) |
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Publisher |
Often published by academic or association presses |
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Advertisements |
Contains few to no advertisements |
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Peer-review? |
Most articles are reviewed by an author’s peers before publication to ensure high quality |
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Article scope |
Journals usually have a narrow subject focus, and articles often include original research, reviews, or essays |
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Graphics |
Illustrations often consist of charts or graphs |
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Language |
Articles use jargon of the discipline |
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Examples |
American Journal of Botany, The Academy of Management Journal, Social Research |
Characteristics of popular magazines
Check this chart for characteristics of popular magazines.
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Authors |
Articles are usually written by professional writers or journalists |
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Sources |
There are rarely bibliographies |
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Audience |
Aimed at general population |
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Publisher |
Published by commercial (for profit) presses |
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Advertisements |
Contain numerous advertisements |
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Peer-review? |
Rare |
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Article scope |
Used to inform, update, or introduce a topic to a general reader |
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Graphics |
Numerous colorful illustrations and/or photographs are usually present | |
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Language |
Language is geared to general population; no special knowledge is required |
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Examples |
Runner's World, Ebony, Time |
Characteristics of trade publications
Check the below chart for information about trade publications.
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Authors |
Articles usually written by specialists in an industry |
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Sources |
Sources are mentioned, but rarely formally cited |
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Audience |
Aimed at people in a particular profession, trade, or industry |
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Publisher |
Usually published by professional or trade associations |
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Advertisements |
Contains a few advertisements, usually targeting the particular industry |
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Peer-review? |
Generally, no peer-review process |
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Article scope |
Articles tend to be practical information, helpful to people in the industry |
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Graphics |
Some illustrations; often consisting of charts or graphs |
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Language |
Articles use jargon of the industry |
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Examples |
Adweek, Social Studies and the Young Learner, Software Development |
How do I evaluate websites?
If you find a website that you think might be useful for your assignment, use this list as an evaluation tool. This is just a starting point—you may find more points to consider as you become more comfortable with evaluating your sources. Some of these points are worth keeping mind as you evaluate articles, too.
Currency
- When was this article or page published? Has it been updated since then?
- Has the author written more recent papers on the same subject?
- Does this article contain statistics or data? Are more current figures available elsewhere?
Relevance
- Does the information in this article answer your research question?
- Does the type of article fit the requirements of your assignment?
- Is this article appropriate for college-level research?
Authority
- Who wrote the article?
- Is the author an expert in the field? What credentials does he or she have to suggest that?
- Can you find any other resources that cite this article?
Accuracy
- Does the information in the article fit with what you already know about the subject?
- Does the article contain references or citations to other resources?
Purpose
- Does the article seem to be objective, or is there any obvious bias or prejudice?
- Does the author use emotional language?
- Is the author writing on behalf of any company or political entity?
The CRAAP test was originally created by librarians at Meriam Library at California State University, Chico.