How to Tell Scholarly Journals from Popular Magazines

• are published bimonthly (six times per year), quarterly (four times per year), or semi-annually (twice per year).
• contain long articles with descriptive titles written by specialists for others in the field.
• provide bibliographies, footnotes, or lists of references with articles.
• have plain, straight-forward covers and few photographs (if any).
• contain small advertisements for academic products and services.

Examples from the Library's holdings: Cancer Nursing, Criminology, Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, JOGNN, Journal of Forensic Sciences, and Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Best Use: papers and assignments as specified by instructors.

The OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center is an excellent source for examples of what scholarly journals look like. You will need to install Adobe Reader on your personal computer in order to view and read the articles (this program is already installed on the Library's computers).

• are published weekly or monthly.
• contain short or medium-length articles, often with catchy titles, written by staff writers for the general public.
• do not provide bibliographies, footnotes, or lists of references.
• have glossy covers and contain color photographs throughout each issue.
• contain numerous advertisements for common products.

Examples from the Library's holdings: Ebony, Health, Ladies Home Journal, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report

Best Use: background information, factual information, up-to-date information, reviews for current books, films, music and drama.