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Biomedical Sciences: Journals vs. Magazines

Your research guide for the biomedical sciences studies/research.

Scholarly Journals

AUDIENCE

Professors, researchers, scholars, students

APPEARANCE

Plain cover, and black and white pictures

ADVERTISEMENTS

No advertisements

AUTHOR Experts in the field, professionals
CONTENT & FOCUS

 Original thoughts, ideas,  research, new methodologies

DOCUMENTATION Bibliographies, footnotes
ILLUSTRATIONS

Few illustrations, relevant research oriented charts, graphs, and tables

LANGUAGE Specialized formal language
LENGTH

Usually quite lengthy, giving         in-depth research, theories, analysis

PUBLICATION FREQUENCY

Usually published monthly, or quarterly

EXAMPLES

Journal of Experimental Biology; American Scientist

Popular Magazines

AUDIENCE General readers
APPEARANCE Colorful cover, glossy paper, and color pictures
ADVERTISEMENTS Several colorful advertisements
AUTHOR

Journalists, staff writers, usually not experts in the field

CONTENT & FOCUS

Current events, general interest

DOCUMENTATION

Very little, if any documentation

ILLUSTRATIONS Many colorful eye-catching illustrations
LANGUAGE

Easy to read

LENGTH

Usually short to medium, giving overview of topics

PUBLICATION FREQUENCY

Usually published weekly, or monthly

EXAMPLES    Psychology Today; Newsweek; National Geographic; Time