How to Evaluate Periodical Articles
While most articles go through either a peer-review process or editorial process, finding information in print doesn't automatically guarantee accuracy or authority. A periodical is any publication with the same name issued on a regular basis (periodically). This includes newspapers, magazines, and journals. Here are some questions to use as you evaluate periodical articles.
What is the article's purpose?
Does it...
- Persuade the reader to do something? i.e. vote a certain way, purchase something, attend something?
- Inform the reader? i.e. give results of an experiment or study? inform of current events?
- Prove something? i.e. that a method works/doesn't work?
- Entertain? i.e., fiction, humor, gossip.
- Teach how to do something? i.e., resumes, cover letters, care plans, lesson plans, etc.
- Does the publication have an inherent bias that will impact articles printed in them? Is the journal: Left/liberal? Right/conservative? Center? An alternative press? Published by a political action group?
For your research topic is the material:
- Up-to-date? Out-of-date? Timeless?
- What is the authority of the author? Is the author an expert in the field?
- Where is the author employed? What else has he/she written? Has he/she won awards?
- Who is the audience for the article? Is the article for: General readers, students at high schools, college or graduate school? Professionals or specialists? Researchers?
- Is there a bibliography?Does a bibliography exist? Is it short or long? Is it selective or comprehensive?
- Are references to primary sources or only secondary sources? Are references sufficiently up-to-date for the book or are they too far out of date when the book was published?
- Is the citation style clear and consistent?
What type of periodical is it?
- Scholarly journals contain high quality research that has been reviewed by experts in the field prior to publication.
- Trade magazines are written for professionals within a certain field (i.e. business, engineering, nursing, etc.).
- Popular magazines are written for general public. They contain stories on current events, pop culture, and general interest stories. Popular magazines are not intended for college level research!
- Peer-reviewed means experts in the field have reviewed the journal articles for quality and accuracy before the articles are accepted for publication. This means the research is sound and high quality-the type of articles you want to cite in a research paper!
| Scholarly Journals | Magazines | Professional/Trade Journals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written by | scholars/researchers | journalists | journalists/industry experts |
| Written for | professors, students | general public | people who work in that field |
| Looks like | mostly text, may have charts & graphs | glossy covers, many advertisements, & photographs | glossy covers & industry ads |
| Articles | contain original research/analysis usually signed by the author long articles written in scholarly/technical language contain bibliographies peer-reviewed |
info about current events, trends, pop culture not always signed by the author short articles written for general reader no bibliographies not peer-reviewed |
report on industry news & trends not always signed by author short articles written in technical language specific to that industry may be bibliographies could be peer-reviewed |
| Examples | Studies in Short Fiction Journal of Chemical Education |
Time Newsweek Ladies Home Journal |
RN Accounting Review Library Journal |
Date Last Updated: 01/30/12