Module 13
Scholarly vs. Popular Articles

Contents:
Introduction
Module 1: How to Solve an Information Problem
Module 2: Search Techniques
Module 3: SD Library Network
Module 4: Proquest
Module 5: Infotrac
Module 6: Lexis-Nexis
Module 7: OCLC Firstsearch
Module 8: 
Module 9: 
Module 10: 
Module 11: Internet Searching
Module 12: Evaluating Internet sources
Module 14: Citing sources
Module 15: How to Get Material Not Available Online

Module 13 Scholarly vs. Popular Articles

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When evaluating magazine and journal articles for use, keep in mind that they fall along a continuum from very scholarly articles in professional journals to popular articles in magazines.

For some research projects, faculty will accept articles from anywhere along the continuum. However, as you move into more advanced research projects, faculty may restrict your sources to the scholarly end.

Along the continuum are 4 different types of magazines/journals:

1. scholarly,
2. technical/trade,
3. substantial news/general interest, and
4. popular.

A fifth type, sensational (example: National Enquirer), has not been included because sensational magazines should not be used for your research projects.

To understand the distinctions between the 4 types, go now to read Scholarly to Popular Continuum and then return here.

* * * * * *

Now that you've learned how the types differ from each other, note that the most important criteria for distinguishing the 4 types are purpose, audience, sources, authors and language.

This is especially true when you are working with electronic articles and cannot see the original print journal or magazine to evaluate graphics, color and advertising. And, of course, there are more and more electronic journals/magazines with no print counterpart at all.

Sometimes it can be hard to assign a particular magazine to one category. Remember that this is a continuum, so some magazines/journals may fall into a crossover area between to types and share characteristics of both.

Some key points:

• Scholarly and technical/trade journals are both written for a professional audience. The key distinction is that scholarly journals report primary research. Technical/trade journals provide "how we did it" descriptive articles with a less formal tone.

Many professional organizations publish both a scholarly journal and a technical/trade journal for their members, because the purposes are very different.

• Articles written by specialists/experts carry more weight as evidence than do articles written by magazine staff writers. Articles written by specialists are typically found in technical/trade journals and in scholarly journals.

• Articles with bibliographies carry more weight as evidence than do articles without bibliographies. Bibliographies are found in scholarly journals, sometimes in technical/trade journals, rarely in substantial news/general interest, and not in popular magazines.

• Articles which report primary research (that is, the author is making the first published report of the results of his or her own research study) carry more weight as evidence than do articles which do not. Primary research is reported in scholarly journals.

However, scholarly articles can be difficult for non-specialists to understand and are not necessary for most composition projects. An article in Newsweek or Time can be very valuable for an ENGL 101 paper. ENGL 201/301 projects will require you to use technical/trade journals and perhaps some scholarly articles.

Key Point: Choose material that is appropriate for the project on which you are working and appropriate for your level of understanding.

END OF MODULE 13. 
Continue to next page to begin MODULE 14.

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