Characteristics of Popular, Scholarly, and Trade Sources
An important part of gathering and evaluating sources for research projects is knowing the difference between popular, scholarly, and trade publications.
The physical appearance of print sources can help you identify the type of source as well. Popular magazines and trade publications are usually glossy with many photos. Scholarly journals are usually smaller and thicker with plain covers and images, In electronic sources you can check for bibliographies and author credentials or affiliations as potential indicators of scholarly sources.
| Popular Magazines | Scholarly (including peer-reviewed) | Trade Publications | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content |
Current events; general interest articles |
Research results/reports; reviews of research (review articles); book reviews |
Articles about a certain business or industry |
| Purpose | To inform, entertain, or elicit an emotional response | To share research or scholarship with the academic community | To inform about business or industry news, trends, or products |
| Author | Staff writers, journalists, freelancers | Scholars/researchers | Staff writers, business/industry professionals |
| Audience | General public | Scholars, researchers, students | Business/industry professionals |
| Review | Staff editor | Editorial board made up of other scholars and researchers. Some articles are peer-reviewed | Staff editor |
| Citations | May not have citations, or may be informal (ex. according to... or links) | Bibliographies, references, endnotes, footnotes | Few, may or may not have any |
| Frequency | Weekly/monthly | Quarterly or semi-annually | Weekly/monthly |
| Ads* |
Numerous ads for a variety of products |
Minimal, usually only scholarly products like books | Ads are for products geared toward specific industry |
| Examples in Library Databases | Time; Rolling Stone; New Yorker | Journal of Food Safety; Journal of Food Science | Food and Beverage Industry News |
Food, Culture and Society: An International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research is an international peer-reviewed publication dedicated to exploring the complex relationships among food, culture, and society from numerous disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, as well as in the world of food beyond the academy.
Food and Foodways is an international journal devoted to publishing on the history and culture of human nourishment. By reflecting on the role food plays in human relations, this unique journal explores the powerful but often subtle ways in which food has shaped, and shapes, our lives socially, economically, politically, mentally, nutritionally, and morally.
In the pages of Gastronomica, you will find examinations of historical trends and transformations in food and eating; analyses of the political, economic, and social dimensions of food production and consumption; research briefs on emerging issues in fields related to food research and innovation; and interviews with key figures in the world of food (scholars, activists, producers, and consumers).
The Journal of Ethnic Foods is dedicated to provide reliable information about people’s consumption of food, as well as the superiority or creativity developed from the long-term accumulated traditional understanding and knowledge in foods.
Culture, Agriculture, Food and Environment has an interdisciplinary readership among anthropologists and archaeologists, as well as researchers and practitioners in related fields including sociology, agricultural economics, food studies, policy sciences, and diverse branches of farming and natural resources management.
