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There are three major types of publication for a student to know. Be aware there is variation among disciplines especially for scholarly journals.
Below is a criteria to distinguish the difference and examples at the bottom.
SCHOLARLY JOURNAL |
TRADE PUBLICATION |
POPULAR MAGAZINE |
|
POPULAR |
Present new research findings. Advance knowledge in the field. |
Inform, persuade, or sell. May summarize the work of scholars. |
Inform, persuade, entertain, or sell. May summarize the work of scholars. |
AUTHOR |
Scholars listed with credentials and, if applicable, university affiliation. |
Journalists, staff, or free-lance writers. Articles may be unsigned. |
Journalists, staff, or free-lance writers. Often unsigned. |
SCOPE |
Limited to a field of study, or narrower. |
Single industry trends, new products or techniques, and organizational news. |
Varies. |
AUDIENCE |
Scholars, researchers, professionals, and students. |
Members of a specific business, industry or organization. |
Public-at-large. |
PUBLICATION PROCESS |
Refereed (reviewed by other scholars before publication). |
Edited.
|
Edited. |
STRUCTURE |
Formal. Includes a list of works cited (references). Pagination is consecutive throughout each volume. |
Informal. Moderate advertising as related to the industry or trade. Each issue begins with page 1. |
Informal. Often contains eye-catching advertising and flashy graphics and photographs. Each issue begins with page 1. |
SUPPORT OF ARGUMENT |
Research built on prior research. |
Confirmed sources or opinion. May summarize the work of scholars. |
Confirmed sources or opinion. May summarize the work of scholars. |
EXAMPLES |
Ethnography and Education Physical Educator J. of Educational Change |
NASSP Bulletin Education Digest Scholastic News Science Teacher |
Prevention Time Psychology Today |
Scholarly V Popular. Todd Quinn. University of New Mexico Libraries. Viewed September 20, 2021.