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PERIODICALS
Periodicals are materials that are published at regular intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly). You are likely familiar with many periodicals already, such as newspapers and magazines, and hopefully also with scholarly journals.
There are three different types of periodicals:
| TYPE OF PERIODICAL |
DESCRIPTION |
| Scholarly Journals |
Contain articles that have original research or theories. They have in depth coverage of a narrow aspect of a topic. They have a greater degree of analysis than other periodicals and are more up to date than books. You would want to use a scholarly journal when you need in-depth analysis, ideas for further sources, or statistics. |
| Popular Journals (Magazines) |
Contain articles that present factual information and begin to analyze data but are not sources for theories. They are useful when you need fairly current information on an event and are best used as primary source material for current popular opinion and news coverage. |
| Newspapers |
Contain short articles that present extremely current information. Newspapers are very useful as primary source material. Keep in mind that stories reported as events come to light, many of which are later disproved or understood differently. |
Though it is usually quite simple to distinguish a newspaper from magazines and journals, it is not always so easy to distinguish between scholarly and popular periodicals (i.e. magazines). The following table outlines the difference between periodicals and should help you to recognize scholarly and popular articles.
| CRITERIA |
SCHOLARLY JOURNALS |
POPULAR PERIODICALS |
NEWSPAPERS |
| Author |
Expert in the field - name and credentials will be included |
Journalist - name is often listed, but credentials rarely are |
Reporters - name might be listed, credentials almost never |
| Refereed** |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Citations |
There will be references to other scholarly works through the use of footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography |
There are rarely references or bibliographies |
Almost never |
| Language |
Jargon of the field |
Layperson’s terms |
Layperson’s terms |
| Audience |
Scholars and students in the field |
General public |
General public |
| Content |
Original research, theories, or analysis |
Summary, presentation of facts (as they appear at the time), beginning of analysis |
Summary, overview, presentation of facts (as they appear at the time) |
| Publisher |
Often academic institute |
Media corporation |
Media corporation |
Currency
(how long after the events it is published?) |
Months-years |
Week-month |
Day-week |
| Length |
Longer - more than five pages |
Shorter - 1-5 pages |
Short - usually less than one page |
| Format |
There is usually a formal style to every article which often includes an article abstract, an introduction and conclusion as well as bibliographic information |
There is not often a structured format |
Broken into long narrow columns |
| Graphics |
Support the point of the article with charts, graphics, statistics, illustrations, etc. |
Often glossy photos or advertising |
Photos are often advertising or illustration, rarely graphs or diagrams |
| Advertisements |
If any, will be in regards to the field |
Can be about anything |
Can be about anything |
| Examples |
Hypatia, Journal of the American Academy of Religion |
Maclean’s, Cosmopolitan, Popular Mechanics, Time, Newsweek |
Calgary Herald, Globe and Mail, National Post |
For more information on how to distinguish periodicals from each other, see: http://www.lib.utsa.edu/Research/Subject/scholarlyguide.html
If a journal is refereed, that means articles have been sent to other experts in the field for review. In non-refereed periodicals, articles are edited but not necessarily for content or for the validity of a theory.
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If you have found a source that is unusual check with:
- A librarian
- Your professor
For those unfamiliar with articles and article indexes, they are strange beasts that are more trouble than they are worth. However, for those who know the secrets of the indexing system and the ins and outs of journals, articles are a blessing. Not only do they present information in bite-size chunks, they actually save you time. When you first use articles, it may take you more time to find them, but once you have them, you can read a scholar's entire argument in a matter of pages rather than chapters. If you find three articles by three different authors, you may already have found three different points of view to support your topic area. Often if a scholar in religious studies has an idea for a book, they will first present the idea as an article. When the book finally comes out, you will be able to casually mention having read it when it was still a new idea.
For those of you who are more motivated by laziness than academic snobbery, there are always full-text articles that allow you to do all your library research in your pajamas, if you so desire. And last, but not least, there is Interlibrary Loan. In most cases, if an article has been published somewhere, the Library can find it for you even if they don't own it themselves (it even comes photocopied so you don't even have to remember to return it). The largest downfall of journal articles, once you have learned to use them effectively, is remembering to use books!
Analyze the three following periodical articles and answer the question below:
Periodicals
- http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/Vol7No1/tentodecalogue.htm
- http://www.vatican.va/news_services/or/or_eng/035w01.pdf
- http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/csrpl/RINVol7No1/God%20the%20Poppa.htm
What type of periodical is it?
Click on the following to take the quizzes.
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