1.3+Types+of+Publications

=1.3 Types of Publications=

Popular, Scholary and Trade

 * Popular** publications inform and entertain the general public. Magazines and many entertaining books are examples of popular sources.


 * Scholarly** publications disseminate research and academic disucssion among professionals within disciplines. A reliable criteria for determining whether a journal is popular, scholarly or trade is whether articles go through a process of //peer review// prior to publication.


 * Trade** publications are sometimes a combination of both popular and scholary publications, which allows people in specific industries to share information. If popular adn scholarly are at opposite ends of the pubication spectrum, trade publications fall somewhere inbetween. The articles in trade publications may be written by journalists, college professors, or someone working in the field with extensive expertise. Articles in trade publications are written for a knowledgeable audience; however, many of the features of a scholarly publication are often missing (literature review, presentation of methodology and findings, footnotes, references, detailed charts of data, etc.)

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

 * Primary sources** are original, uninterpreted information.

Unedited, firsthand access to words, images or objects created by persons directly involved in an activity or event or speaking directly to a group. This is information before it has been analyzed, interpreted, commented uipon, spun or repackaged.

Depending on the context, these may include research reports, sales receipts, speeches, e-mails, original artwork, manuscripts, photos, diaries, personal letters, spoken stories/tales/interviews, diplomatic records, etc. Think of physical evidence or eyewitness testimony in a court trial.


 * Secondary Sources** interpret, analyze, or summarize.

Commentary upon, or analysis of, events, ideas, or primary sources. Because they are often written significantly after events by parties not directly involved but who have special expertise, they may provide historical context or critical perspectives.

Examples are scholary books, journals, magazines, criticism, interpretations, and so forth. This of a lawyer's final summation or jury discussion in a court trial.

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