Research guides: *Library research basics: Scholarly, popular &amp; trade sources

The terms, periodicals, serials, journals, and magazines are often are used interchangeably. This doesn't mean they are all the same.

Periodicals are publications that are published daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually
Journals are generally thought of as scholarly and authoritative; articles will include references and citations
Magazines are referred to as being popular publications; may have less credibility in an academic environment
Trade or professional publications are meant for a particular industry or profession
Magazines, trade publications, and journals are all periodicals
Serials are publications in any format that are published in a numerical or chronological sequence. They may appear in regular or irregular intervals and are intended to be produced indefinitely. Serials include newspapers, journals, annuals

Journals - scholarly, academic or peer-reviewed

appeal to specialists, academics, researchers, post-secondary students
authors are experts in their field, affiliated with an institution or university. Author's credentials usually listed.
reporting results of original research and experimentation
provide in-depth coverage; articles tend to be lengthy
use specialized language of the discipline
platforms for scholars and researchers to share their research and discoveries with others who are also experts in their field
articles reviewed by a panel of experts before acceptance for publication (juried, refereed, peer reviewed)
specific sources used in research are included in citations, footnotes, bibliography or reference list

they have wide readerships; use everyday language
rely heavily on advertisements targeted to consumers as a source of revenue
they cover ideas, issues, events, personalities, and activities that have popular appeal
their appearance is often attractive, with eye-catching graphics, shorter articles, pictures, advertising
authors are usually professional writers or journalists. Unsigned articles by staff writers
checked for accuracy by the editor, but bibliography or source list rarely provided

publications with a very narrow appeal, targeting particular industries or professions
advertising is often geared to the profession
provide news about new products and processes, conferences and trade shows, and companies
written with a relevant profession in mind, but are generally pretty accessible; lay readers will still be able to understand the articles
authors of trade journal/magazine articles are often members of a relevant field or profession. Usually their professional designation will be indicated
sometimes the only source of information about trends in business and industry
may include references but will not be as extensive as a scholarly article