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Science 1114

Video 1 - Types of information resources in science

Scholarly Articles vs. Popular Sources

Scholarly journal articles, also known as peer-reviewed or academic articles, are articles in which researchers report their research findings, critical analyses, and new ideas. These articles have been evaluated and critiqued by other researchers and experts in the same field before they are published.

Popular magazines and newspapers contain articles written for the general public about current events and topics of popular interest. The rapid publishing process of magazines and newspapers allows their articles to contain very recent information. For some assignments, magazine and newspaper articles may not be appropriate sources to cite – make sure to check with your instructor.

Characteristics of Scholarly and Popular Magazines
Characteristics Scholarly Popular
Purpose Reports research results Provides general information, news, entertainment
Audience Researchers, professionals, and/or specialists in the field General Public
Author Specialist in the field; name, credentials, and affiliations are provided Journalist or staff writer, sometimes anonymous; usually no credentials are given
Language Academic or technical terms used; can be hard to understand Easy to understand, little or no specialized terms used
Structure May include distinct sections, such as abstract, methodology, results, conclusion, bibliography No specific format or structure
References Bibliography (works cited list) at the end and/or footnotes to document research Generally no bibliography; may list sources that were mentioned in the article

 

About articles in science journals

Reference Sources 

Encyclopedia articles, credible websites, and even textbooks are a great place to start your research. Once you have gotten an overview of your topic from a reference source, you are better equipped to start looking for scientific articles in journals.

When reading a reference source, make note of:

  • Common terms used when describing your topic. These will be useful when searching in databases
  • The main concepts within each topic
  • How the information relates to the assignment you're doing

Two kinds of articles in science journals:

Research Article

  • Describes the findings of original observations or experiments.
  • Should provide an abstract, methods, results and points for discussion.
  • Most of the articles published in science journals are research articles.
  • Research articles are considered primary literature.

Review Article

  • Summarizes current research in a particular area of study, categorizing and highlighting recent research studies.
  • Good way to get an overview of current research in a field.
  • Easier for a non-specialist to understand than a research article.
  • Review articles are considered to be secondary literature.

Some science journals publish both research and reviews, such as the major journals Nature, Science, and PNAS.

A few science journals publish reviews only - e.g. Annual Review of Biochemistry, Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, and Trends in Genetics.

Subjects: Science