What's the Difference Between Scholarly and Popular?
| Scholarly | Popular | |
|---|---|---|
Examples |
Current Directions in Psychological Science, American Journal of Nursing, JAMA, Science | Time, Newsweek, Jet, Ebony, Psychology Today |
Length |
Longer articles |
Shorter, newsy, overview articles |
| Authorship | Experts in the field (includes credentials) |
Staff writer - often the author's name is not given |
| Language/ Audience |
Written in the words used by professionals in the field for those working in the field and for students | Easier to read, written for those not very knowledgeable on the topic |
| Features | Charts, graphs, maps, or photographs that enhance the text, very little advertising | Color and glossy photographs, lots of advertisements |
| Editors | Articles reviewed and critiqued by experts in the field (refereed) | Articles are reviwed by staff editors, generally not experts in the field |
| Credits | Bibliography of source and/or footnotes are included to show the research done by the author(s) | Sources used are usually not included |
The best guide to resources is a librarian who can help you in using the catalog, databases and the Web. A librarian can also assist you in selecting materials appropriate for your needs. Please ask at any service desk for information or assistance!
Reference/Information Desk: 214-860-2174 Circulation:
214-860-2175
West Campus: Reference/Information Desk: 972-391-1433 Circulation: 972-391-1427
BJP: (Room 2300) 214-860-5780
Comments or suggestions are welcome.
©2006 El Centro College Library
Dallas, TX
Last Updated:
December 15, 2009