Scholarly (sometimes called peer-reviewed) journals differ from popular magazines in several ways. This guide to identifying characteristics should help you understand the differences:

Characteristic	Scholarly	Popular
Examples
Purpose	Usually for a specific field	Current, general interest
Audience	Researchers are those of advanced reading level	General audience
Author	Professional, specialist, expert. Credentials provided.	Journalist, popular author, staff writer.
Length	Longer articles. In-depth studies	Shorter articles; overview of topics
Reviewed	Reviewed (refereed) by scholars, experts, or peers in field	Evaluated by staff editors
Illustrations	Charts, graphs, some specialized photographs	Numerous glossy and color photographs
Advertising	Minimal advertising; occasionally some for field-specific products.	Lots of advertising for a wide array of products
Language	Specialized vocabulary	Non-technical vocabulary; easier to understand

Remember that even a scholarly journal can have editorial, opinion, or news items that would not be considered "peer-reviewed."

Need further help in identifying scholarly and popular articles?

• Some databases, such as OneSearch, Ebsco, or ProQuest, allow you to limit your search to scholarly or peer-reviewed articles.
• UlrichsWeb Periodicals Directory will tell you whether or not a journal is refereed. Look for the Referee's jersey symbol.