What Is a Scholarly Journal?
A scholarly journal, also called an academic or peer-reviewed journal, is a periodical that publishes research and scholarship written by experts and intended for other experts, students and professionals in a field. It is the main way that new research is shared and checked in most disciplines. Journals are published by universities, learned societies and commercial publishers, in print, online or both.
Features
- Authors with credentials: the writers are researchers, with affiliations listed.
- Peer review: most journals send submissions to experts for evaluation before publishing.
- Citations and references: articles cite their sources in detail.
- Specialized language: written for people who know the field.
- Methods and evidence: research articles explain how the work was done.
- Abstracts and keywords: summaries that help readers and databases.
- Little advertising: the focus is on content.
Scholarly versus popular sources
| Scholarly journal | Popular magazine | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Experts and students | General public |
| Authors | Researchers | Journalists |
| Review | Often peer reviewed | Editorial review |
| References | Full citations | Few or none |
| Goal | Share research | Inform or entertain |
Typical article structure
Many science and social science articles follow a pattern: abstract, introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion and conclusion, then references. Humanities articles may follow an argument-driven structure. Learning to read the abstract and conclusion first helps you decide whether an article is relevant.
Types of articles
- Original research articles, reporting new studies.
- Review articles, summarizing and evaluating research on a topic.
- Case studies and short reports.
- Commentaries, letters and editorials, which may not be peer reviewed.
- Book reviews.
Finding and accessing
Use library databases, and apply filters for scholarly or peer-reviewed journals. Many articles require a subscription, which your library provides. Open-access journals publish articles free to read. Check whether a journal is reputable by looking at its publisher, editorial board and indexing, and be careful of predatory journals.
Using them in assignments
Read critically, take notes, and cite the exact article, not just the journal. Look at the references to find other relevant work, and at "cited by" links to see more recent research.
Why it matters
Scholarly journals are the main source of evidence for academic writing. Learning to find and read them is a core skill.
Related terms
See peer review, impact factor, open access, DOI and preprint.
Frequently asked questions
How is a scholarly journal different from a magazine?
A scholarly journal publishes original research by experts, with references and methods, usually reviewed by peers. Magazines are written by journalists for general readers, with fewer citations.
Do I need a library to read scholarly journals?
Many are behind paywalls, and libraries provide access. Open-access journals are free, and you can also find free versions through repositories and preprint servers.
What are the parts of a journal article?
Typically an abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion and conclusion, followed by references. Humanities articles may be organized differently.