Evaluating Periodicals
Periodicals are publications that come out periodically, e.g. weekly, monthly, quarterly. They are the best sources to use for up-to-date information. Some common types of periodicals are:
| TYPE | EXAMPLES |
| Newspapers | New York Times |
| Magazines | Time, Sports Illustrated, People Weekly, Parents |
| Journals | Journal of Consumer Research, Lancet, Family Law Quarterly, Psychological Review, American Journal of Physics |
| Trade Journals | Fashion Business International, Concrete Construction, Hotel Business, Nation's Restaurant News |
| Newsletters | Nutrition Action Health Letter |
- Newspaper articles are written by reporters, to give a current reporting of the facts on a daily or weekly basis.
- Newsletters are usually published weekly or monthly and attempt to keep an interested public (often professionals in a discipline) informed about the latest research, news or government action on their topic.
- Trade journals are aimed at people who work in a specific industry, to keep them informed of latest developments in that industry.
- Magazines and journals have some distinct differences between them that we should look at in more detail.
| MAGAZINES | JOURNALS | |
| Audience | General public | Scholarly reader (Professor, student, researcher) |
| Authors | Journalist or Generalist | Scholar or Researcher in the Discipline |
| Frequency | Weekly, Monthly | Monthly, Quarterly, Semi Annual, Annual |
| References | Usually no bibliography | Bibliography or References |
| Form | Often written like a story | Usually has a specific structure. May be reporting research results with statistics, methodology, etc. |
| Format | Attractive, glossy photos, cartoons | Often plain, "boring appearance," tables, graphs |
| Ads | Lots! of all kinds | Often none, or for special products in the discipline |
| Publisher | Commercial publisher | May be sponsored by a professional association |
Generally, scholarly journals are expected as periodical resources when doing any in-depth research. If you are preparing a speech for a general audience or an English 101 term paper, magazines can be acceptable sources of information.
All types of periodicals have their place in providing information. If in doubt about what is appropriate for the type of research you are doing, check with your instructor.
Last Updated: 04/23/2008 and Last Revised: Updated 4/23/2008
Contact Denise Madland for more information or help on this topic.