What's the difference between a scholarly and a popular article?
Answer
The table below represents typical attributes of popular and scholarly articles, although you may find exceptions.
|
Popular |
Scholarly / Academic |
|
| Example covers |
|
|
|
Author(s) |
professional writers or journalists |
researchers and experts in a field |
|
Audience |
general public |
students, faculty, and other scholars |
|
Reading level / language |
easily understood by most adult readers |
technical, discipline-specific; often difficult to understand by readers new or unfamiliar with the field |
|
Topic focus |
news and current events, popular culture, etc. |
targeted research |
|
Length |
short, e.g. 1-5 pages |
longer, e.g. 10-20 pages |
|
Appearance |
glossy pages with photos and full-color illustrations |
graphics limited to tables, charts, and scientific illustrations |
|
References |
few to none |
full list of citations for sources used |
|
Review process prior to publishing |
reviewed by editors |
peer-reviewed (“refereed”) by other experts in the field |
|
Note: Book reviews and editorials, regardless of source, are not usually considered scholarly. |
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If you find an article but aren't sure whether it is scholarly (including peer reviewed) or popular, you can look it up in library database Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory (Ulrich’s Periodical Directory). Search by journal title (not by article) and look for the peer review/refereed icon: 
. Also look for “Journal” under Serial Type and “Academic / Scholarly” under Content Type. If you need clarification on a specific source’s academic qualifications and whether it would be accepted for your assignment or research, check with the professor who will be reviewing your work.