Introduction

This guide will help you understand what periodicals are, what different kinds of periodicals you will encounter, and how to apply this knowledge to improve your research skills.  For more assistance, please Ask a Rosen Librarian.

A printable version of this guide is also available: Scholarly PDF (134 KB).

Definitions

The most basic definition of a periodical is a publication that comes out periodically--- that is, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or at some other interval. In addition, periodicals usually contain a variety of short works (e.g., articles, reviews, columns, stories, poems, etc.) written by more than one contributor. Examples of periodicals include magazines, newsletters, and journals. Periodical articles are often very current and focused. For the purpose of college-level research, periodicals are usually divided into three categories:

   POPULAR:

Definition: Popular periodicals usually contain short articles on a variety of topics written by various authors in an informal style. Articles are sometimes unsigned and usually do not include a bibliography. Popular publications usually contain illustrations or advertisements, are usually printed on glossy paper, and are usually sold at newsstands or in bookstores.

Use: Popular periodicals are useful for their coverage of current events and popular opinion.  Students should use them sparingly and should generally supplement research in them with material from trade or scholarly journals, books, or other sources of information.  Some professors may forbid students to use popular periodicals or may limit the number of sources that may come from them.

   TRADE:

Definition: Also known as professional, industry-specific, or special interest periodicals, trade periodicals are "devoted to disseminating news and information of interest to a specific category of business or industry, often published by a trade association" (Rietz).  In terms of content and quality, articles in trade periodicals usually fall somewhere between popular and scholarly ---short to medium-length, may or may not be signed, usually contain some advertisements or illustrations, and may or may not contain a bibliography.

Use: Trade journals are useful for their "insider" coverage of industry trends, practices, and opinions.  Students may generally use trade journals but should often supplement research in them with material from scholarly articles, books, or other sources of information.  Some professors may forbid students to use trade publications or may limit the number of sources that may come from them.

   SCHOLARLY:

Definition: Also known as peer-reviewed or refereed periodicals, scholarly periodicals publish original research and commentary on current developments within a specific discipline.  Articles are signed, are often lengthy, include minimal illustrations and advertisements, and almost always include a bibliography.  Scholarly journals are usually peer-reviewed, meaning that articles "must be subjected to a process of critical evaluation by one or more experts on the subject, known as referees" (Rietz).

Use: Scholarly articles are useful for their original and rigorous approaches to problems by experts in a particular field.  Students can almost always use scholarly articles in their research, although they may need to supplement such research with books or other sources of information.

Conducting Research in Scholarly Journals

There is no master list of scholarly journals, nor does every journal necessarily fit neatly into one of the categories.  Fortunately, however, many databases provide an effective way to ensure that your results will be from mostly scholarly journals --- before submitting your search, simply check the appropriate option in the advanced search screen, which may be labeled Peer Reviewed, Scholarly, or Refereed:
 

Above: An example from the Hospitality & Tourism Complete database
 

Above: An example from the ABI Inform database

For more information about using databases to find articles, see the Finding Articles Rosen Research Guide.

Comparison Chart: Is It a Scholarly, Trade, or Popular Periodical?

The following chart may assist you in determining whether a periodical can be considered scholarly, trade, or popular. If you are still unsure, Ask a Rosen Librarian for help.

Criteria	Scholarly	Trade	Popular
Authors	Written by researchers or scholars in the field who have academic or professional titles	May be written by staff, professionals in the field, or freelancers	May be written by staff, freelancers, or guest contributors
Article Length	Medium-length to long articles (approx. 5-20+ pages)	Short to medium-length articles (approx. 1-20 pages)	Mostly short articles (approx. 1-10 pages)
Appearance	Plain covers, plain matte paper, few illustrations, maybe some tables, figures, charts, graphs	Flashy covers, glossy paper, some illustrations, some photos, cartoons, sidebars	Flashy covers, glossy paper, many illustrations, photos, cartoons, sidebars
Advertising	No ads, or only a few targeted at specific services or products	Many ads for products and services related to a particular professional or trade	Many ads for general consumer products and services
Tone & Language	Serious, academic, specialized jargon or terminology	Educated, specialized jargon or terminology	Entertaining, simple language
Audience	Scholars and researchers in the field	Practitioners of a particular profession, trade, or industry	General, non-expert readers
Purpose	Inform, report, or make available original research	Examine problems or concerns in a particular profession or industry	Entertain or persuade readers with general interest topics, or to sell products
References	Sources are cited: bibliography, references, and/or footnotes used	Sources are usually not cited	Sources are rarely cited
Examples	Annals of Tourism Research Cornell Hotel & Restaurant Administration Quarterly International Journal of Hospitality Management Journal of Vacation Marketing Tourism Analysis	Amusement Business Foodservice Equipment and Supplies Meeting News Restaurant Business Tradeshow Week Travel Weekly	Business Week Money Newsweek Orlando Time Travel and Leisure

* Sources used in compiling the information in this research guide include:

• Joan M. Rietz, Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science (last accessed 2 May 2006).
• Joanna M. Burkhardt, Mary C. MacDonald, & Andree J. Rathemacher, Teaching Information Literacy (Chicago: American Library Association, 2003).

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A printable version of this guide is also available: Scholarly PDF (134 KB)

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Rosen Research Guides  •  Hospitality Research: Scholarly, Trade, or Popular
Universal Orlando Foundation Library

Last Updated: May 2008 RH/TB