Academic Reading

The most important characteristic of an academic or scholarly article is that it has

to pass an academic quality assessment before it can be published in an
academic journal.
Before an article is accepted for publication, it has to be reviewed by researchers
working in the same field (referees). This control process is called peer-
reviewing and is designed to guarantee the academic standard of an article. 
Usually an academic/scholarly article comprises the following elements:

 Abstract - The abstract contains a short summary of the article as well as a description of the objective, method,
result and conclusion of the study. Keywords (or subject words), which identify the contents of the article, are also
given in the abstract. 
  
 Introduction - This is a general description of the background to the research. The objective and research questions
are presented, together with the delimitations of the study. 
 
 Method and material - Descriptions of the method(s) used in doing the research should be so detailed and precise
that stages in the research process could be followed and reproduced by the reader. The methods ought to be
reasonable for and appropriate to that which is being studied. 
 
 Results - Here the results of the research are presented. Important data are either given textual form or by using
tables and figures. Even unexpected or negative results are presented. 
 
 Discussion - The discussion is an assessment of the results. Methodological considerations as well as the way in
which the results compare to earlier research in the field are discussed. 
  
 References - All documents mentioned in the article should be included in the bibliography, so that the reader is
able to refer to the original sources.
Source: http://www.kau.se/en/library/search/help-searching/faq/what-is-academicscholarly-article
 Comparative chart:
CRITERIA SCHOLARLY JOURNALS POPULAR MAGAZINES

Expert (scholar, professor, researcher, etc.) Journalist; nonprofessional or layperson.

Author
in field covered. Author is always named. Sometimes author is not named.
Usually includes notes and/or Few or no notes or bibliographic
Notes bibliographic references. references
News and research (methodology, theory)
Contents Current events; general interest.
from the field.
Written for experts using technical Journalistic; written for nonprofessional
Style language. or layperson.
Audience Scholars or researchers in the field. General public.

Review Usually reviewed by peer scholars Reviewed by one or more editors

(referees) not employed by the journal. employed by the magazine .
Plain; mostly print, sometimes with black
Appearance and white figures, tables, graphs and/or Glossy, with many pictures in color.
charts.
Few or none; if any, usually for books or
ADS other professional materials. Many, often in color.

FREQUENCY Usually monthly Usually weekly or monthly.

Developmental Psychology (published by
Examples the American Psychological Association). Rolling Stone (commercially published).

Source: http://library.sdsu.edu/reference/research/peer-reviewed-articles