Some of the following characteristics are found in most scholarly journals.
WHERE DID YOU FIND IT?
Did you find a citation for it in a subject-oriented index? (for example, ERIC, CINAHL, Social Work Abstracts, ATLA, MLA)
HOW ARE ARTICLES CHOSEN FOR PUBLICATION?
Is the journal published or sponsored by a professional scholarly society or association?
Is there a list of reviewers (editorial board) inside the front cover or within the first few pages of the journal? This type of journal is known as a "juried" or "refereed" journal.
WHAT ARE THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL ARTICLE?
Is the article organized into at least two of the following sections?: a) Introduction or Literature Review b) Theory or Background c) Subjects d) Methods e) Results f) Discussion
Does the article have a bibliography or list of references?
Does the title of the article reflect its content?
Is there an abstract (a concise summary) at the beginning of the article?
Are the author's credentials listed?
Is the article based on either original research or authorities in the field as opposed to personal opinion?
Are there supporting diagrams, charts, or illustrations with the article?
