Here are the basic things to look for when trying to determine if you're looking at a scholarly or a popular publication:
Popular Publications
- Written by and for experts; authoritative
- Evaluated by experts; peer-reviewed or refereed
- Include bibliographies and/or footnotes
- Lengthy articles that contain specialized language
- Example: Journal of Social Psychology
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Scholarly Journals
- Written by and for experts; authoritative
- Evaluated by experts; peer-reviewed or refereed
- Include bibliographies and/or footnotes
- Lengthy articles that contain specialized language
- Example: Journal of Social Psychology
|
If, after examining a publication for these features, you still can't tell if it's scholarly/peer-reviewed, search Ulrich's Web (Periodicals Directory) for the publication title.