What is the difference between scholarly and popular articles and publications?

Here are some of the differences among scientific, professional, and popular literature.

 

Scientific Literature

Professional Literature

Popular Literature

Alternative Description

Scholarly journals,
Peer reviewed journals

 

Trade publications, government reports

Popular magazines

Content

Research projects, methodology, and theory

 

Summarizes ongoing information  about research field

 

News, opinions, and general interest articles

 

Author

Expert or specialist in the field

 

Expert or specialist in the field

 

Journalist, staff, or freelance writer

 

Purpose

Report research, advance knowledge

 

Provide general information about advances in field

 

Inform, persuade, or entertain

 

Editors

Board of experts in the field (refereed, peer reviewed)

 

General editors on staff

 

General editors on staff

 

Design/Layout

Plain, articles have methods, results, & discussion sections

 

Plain, articles have general layout

 

Glossy, eye-catching, articles have general layout

 

Advertisements

Few or none

 

Few or none

 

Heavy

 

Article Length

Longer

Longer

Shorter

Bibliography

Yes – always cite sources

 

Maybe

No- rarely cite sources




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