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View the following videos to help you identify different types of sources.
Publications are written for different purposes and different audiences. Generally, there are three types of publications: scholarly, popular, and trade publications.
| Scholarly Journals | Popular Journals | Trade Publications | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose |
Informs and reports on original research done by scholars and experts in the field. Peer Reviewed |
Entertains and informs a general audience without providing in-depth analysis. |
Reports on industry trends and new products or techniques useful to people in a trade or business. |
| Authors |
Articles are written by subject specialists and experts in the field. |
Articles are written by journalists, freelance writers, or an editorial staff. |
Articles are written by specialists in a certain field or industry. |
| Audience |
Intended for a limited audience - researchers, scholars, and experts. |
Intended for a broad segment of the population, appealing to non-specialists. |
Intended for practititioners in a particular profession, business, or industry. |