PHL 195 Bailey CBL Project: Popular Articles
Popular vs Research Articles
Your assignment asks you to "Compare and analyze the difference between a scientific paper and a popular article on the same topic." This page clarifies the difference between these types of sources.
As you search the internet and library databases for scientific information, the best resources you find will come in two main forms.
- Peer reviewed research papers. These are written directly by the scientists who conducted the research. These primary source articles are written for an audience of other scientists, and can be challenging for the general public to understand. Learn about this type of article on the Research Articles tab.
- Popular sources: credible magazines, news sources and web sites. These are written for the general public, and will summarize the results of scientific research studies. These secondary source articles are the most useful for non-professional scientists. However, it is essential to use only high quality sources because we are depending on the author to interpret the primary research correctly.
Learn more below about popular science sources.
Popular articles
A so-called "popular" article is written for a general audience, in contrast to a scientific or research article that is written for a narrow audience of experts. Popular articles include news sources, websites aimed at a general audience, and magazine articles found online or in library databases.
A web search is a good place to start. Some excellent popular science web sites include
The website Science Daily provides summaries of new research, with links to the full research article: sciencedaily.com
Many library databases include BOTH popular and research articles. Try the following databases if you are only looking for popular sources.
- MAS Ultra - School Edition This link opens in a new windowFull text for over 500 general interest and current events magazines.
- Popular Magazines (Gale OneFile) This link opens in a new windowFeatures full text coverage of the top 1,000 most searched magazines across Gale's InfoTrac. Current events, sports, science, health and more.
- US Major Dailies This link opens in a new windowFull text newspapers from five U.S. national and regional newspapers: New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune
Types of articles in libray databases
The chart below shows the primary types of articles you will find in library databases. Web articles can can take any of these forms, although most share characteristics with popular magazine articles.
News articles provide the most current information. Certain newspapers, such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, are also known for thoughtful, in-depth analysis of important topics and events. | |
Popular magazine articles can help you generate ideas about issues, controversies, or unanswered questions about a topic, which you might want to explore further. (Popular here means written for a general audience, not how many people like them.) They sometimes refer to studies or scholarly work that you can track down for more information. | |
Trade publications are written by and for professionals within an industry. These are an excellent source of very specific information from inside the field. | |
Scholarly journal articles go through a process of peer review before they are published. They are written by experts in the field (the people with letters after their name!) and their purpose is to advance the ongoing body of work within the discipline. These articles might present original research data and findings, or take a position on a key question within the field. They can be difficult to read, because their intended audience is other experts and academics, but they are at the top of the line when it comes to authoritative information. |