Articles are found in journals, magazines and newspapers. These publications are referred to as "periodicals" or "serials."

As a general guideline, journal articles are considered scholarly, and articles found in magazines and newspapers are considered popular.

[Note: Review the module on "Information Basics" for help in distinguishing between scholarly and popular publications.]

Some journals use the peer review or referee process. In this process, a group of experts reviews articles before they are included in a publication. Peer-reviewed or refereed articles are considered to be more authoritative.