Scholarly Journals
Scholarly journals are published periodically, ranging in frequency from monthly to quarterly or even only twice yearly. The key differences between magazines and journals are that journals are written for and by experts in their chosen field and that they focus on a particular research interest, such as experimental psychology or aerodynamics.
Scholarly journals are published in every academic discipline and are used as a means for scholars and researchers to share their research and discoveries with others who are also experts in their discipline.
In the course of publishing their own research, academics will review the research methodology of other experts and will also raise challenging questions about areas of their disciplines that can be pursued in future research. In short, scholarly journals provide a sounding board for those involved in deeply exploring any academic discipline.
Scholarly journals are written in a style different from popular magazines. Since they are addressed to a specialized audience, articles published in scholarly journals are infused with the language of the discipline on which they focus. Articles written for experts in psychology, for example, will utilize the specialized vocabulary used by psychologists in their study of human behavior. This makes them largely inaccessible to the general public, but these articles are not written for the general public in the first place. They are written for other experts in the field.
Important studies published in scholarly journals will be reported or summarized in the popular press in magazines such as Time and Newsweek, but the reports of the studies in the popular press greatly simplify the findings so that the general ideas are easily accessible to any reader.
Scholarly journals are periodical publications that feature articles written by experts in a specific field of study. They provide up-to-date research findings, reviews, and scholarly discussions, making them essential for academic research. Scholarly Journals are critical for accessing the latest developments, theories, and empirical studies.
Characteristics of Scholarly Journals
- discuss research in detail using various types of methodologies (i.e. qualitative vs. quantitative);
- includes a substantial bibliography;
- many times an abstract is present;
- written by and for experts, or scholars, in the field;
- nothing is being sold through advertisements;
- little to no glossy images unless directly related to research.
Evaluating Scholarly Journals
Why We Evaluate Journals
- Credibility
- To ensure the research is reliable and comes from authoritative sources.
- Relevance
- To confirm the content aligns with current research needs and academic standards.
- Quality
- To verify that the research methodologies and conclusions are sound and well-supported.
How We Evaluate Journals
- Peer Review
- Check if the journal uses a peer-review process to validate the quality and accuracy of its articles. These types of scholarly articles are also called peer-reviewed articles.
- Impact Factor
- Consider the journal's impact factor, which measures its influence and reputation in the academic community.
- Publisher
- Evaluate the reputation of the journal’s publisher and its affiliations with academic institutions.
- Author Credentials
- Review the qualifications and expertise of the author or authors contributing to the article.
- Relevance to Field
- Ensure the journal focuses on topics that are pertinent to your area of research.
- Citation Frequency
- Check how often articles from the journal are cited by other researchers, indicating its influence and importance.
- Timeliness
- Ensure the journal publishes recent and up-to-date research to stay current with ongoing developments in the field.
By evaluating journals using these criteria, researchers can select high-quality and pertinent sources to support their academic work.
Tutorial on What Is a Scholarly Journal?
Demonstration: Evaluating a Journal Article