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Evaluate Information

Comparing Sources

Scholarly Journals Popular Magazines Trade Journals
written for experts and academics written for a general audience written for a specific industry
in print contains few if any ads or illustrations in print contains many ads and illustrations may contain ads or illustrations
will have footnotes, bibliography, or a works cites usually do not have a works cited or bibliography may have a bibliography
written by experts in the field written by journalists, editorial staff, and freelancers may be written by experts
generally peer reviewed by a field of experts only reviewed by editorial board may or may not be reviewed
articles will generally include an abstract will not have an abstract may not have an abstract
Examples: American Journal of Psychology, New England Journal of Medicine, Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature Examples: Newsweek, National Geographic, Cosmo Examples: Advertising Age, Food Trade Review