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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Academic Journal and Periodical?

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The main difference between an academic journal and a periodical lies in their target audience, content, and purpose. Here are the key differences:

Academic Journal:

  • Aimed at scholars, academics, and researchers.
  • Contains original research, conclusions based on data, footnotes or endnotes, and often includes an abstract and bibliography.
  • Articles are generally written by experts in the subject, using technical language and vocabulary.
  • Many academic journals are peer-reviewed, meaning they have been evaluated by experts in the field.
  • Examples include Journal of Advanced Nursing, Shakespeare Quarterly, and Nature.

Periodical:

  • Any publication that comes out periodically, including journals, magazines, and newspapers.
  • Contains opinions, stories, and news.
  • Articles may be written by professional writers with or without expertise in the subject, using vocabulary understandable to most people.
  • May not be peer-reviewed.
  • Examples include National Geographic, Time, and Popular Mechanics (magazines) and New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Commercial Appeal (newspapers).

In summary, academic journals are aimed at specialists and researchers, containing original research and technical language, while periodicals are aimed at a broader audience, covering news and general topics with more accessible language.

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  • What is the Difference Between Academic Journal and Periodical?
  • Comparative Table: Academic Journal vs Periodical

    • Comparative Table: Academic Journal vs Periodical

    Here is a table that highlights the differences between academic journals and periodicals:

    Criteria Academic Journal Periodical
    Definition A scholarly publication aimed at specialists and researchers, containing original research, conclusions based on data, footnotes, and bibliographies. A publication that comes out regularly or occasionally, including academic journals, magazines, and newspapers.
    Content Detailed reports of original research or experiments, written in technical language by experts. Secondary discussions or reports, may include personal narratives, opinions, and anecdotes.
    Author Author's credentials are given, usually a scholar with subject expertise. Author may or may not be named, often a professional writer, may or may not have subject expertise.
    Audience Scholars, researchers, and students. General public or specific audience.
    Frequency Often has clear and consistent frequency. May or may not have clear frequency.
    Area of Focus Limited to a specific subject area. May not have a specific area of focus.

    In summary, academic journals are aimed at specialists and researchers, containing original research and technical language, while periodicals are publications that come out regularly or occasionally, with content targeting a broader audience and written in a less technical manner.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.