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EC110 Decision Making: Scholarly v. Popular

A behavioral psychology and behavioral economics look at how people make decisions.

A Quick Guide to Evaluating Periodical Articles

 These criteria apply to all periodicals (online or print).

      Scholarly Articles:

 Popular Magazines:

 

  • Bibliography, footnotes, or endnotes.
    - evidence of research conducted
  • Written by expert(s) in the field.
     -
    provides author’s credentials
  • Published by Associations, Research Institutes, University Presses.
  • “Peer reviewed.”
    -  the policy of experts examining article before acceptance for publication
  • Written in the jargon of the field
     - for scholarly readers (professors, researchers or students.)
  • Illustrations that support the text
     - tables, graphs, maps, photographs, etc.
  • No footnotes or references.
  • Written by journalists who are usually not experts in the field.
  • Easy to read. Intended for lay audience. Informative and entertaining.
  • Short articles.
  • Many advertisements throughout the magazine.
  • Glossy, slick. Illustrated with graphics and photos.
  • Unsigned articles

 

What about other materials?

Like critreia for evaluating periodicals, these are important criteria for internet pages and databases too.

Scholarly v. Popular

Video produced by Wayne State University Libraries.