How to...Find and Identify Peer Reviewed Journals

Popular Magazines

Trade Publications

Scholarly

(Peer Reviewed) 
Journals

Purpose

To provide general information or to entertain

To provide field- or industry-related news and information

To report on original research/in-depth studies on specialized subjects

Language

Appropriate for a broad, general audience

Specialized vocabulary of the field

Technical language, jargon of the discipline, appropriate for scholars

Appearance

Include advertising

Include photographs

Advertising is usually targeted to professionals in the field

May contain charts, graphs & photos

Contain little advertising

May contain charts and graphs, but usually no photographs

References/
Documentation

Sources may be mentioned, but rarely fully cited or included in bibliographies

Sometimes include a brief list of sources

Sources are cited in footnotes or bibliographies

Authors

Magazine staff, freelance writers, reporters

Professionals in the field/industry, or a staff writer with specialized knowledge

Scholars or researchers in the discipline

Peer-Reviewed

No

May be reviewed by other experts, but not by a board of peers

Yes - often reviewed by the author's peers before publication

Publishing Schedule

Usually weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly

Usually weekly, monthly or bi-monthly

Typically quarterly or twice a year

Examples

Sports Illustrated,
People,
Newsweek,
Time,
Psychology Today

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigerator News,
Vaccine Weekly,
Childhood Education,
Sheriff

Political Quarterly,
Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Applied Social Psychology