Types of Periodicals: Glossary

Abstract²

"A brief, objective representation of the essential content of a book, article, speech, report, dissertation, patent, standard, or other work, presenting the main points in the same order as the original but having no independent literary value. A well-prepared abstract enables the reader to 1) quickly identify the basic content of the document, 2) determine its relevance to their interests, and 3) decide whether it is worth their time to read the entire document. An abstract can be informative, indicative, critical, or written from a particular point of view (slanted)."

Issue³

"A single copy of a periodical."

Journal²

"A periodical devoted to disseminating original research and commentary on current developments in a specific discipline, subdiscipline, or field of study, usually published in quarterly, bimonthly, or monthly issues sold by subscription."

Magazine²

"A popular interest periodical usually containing articles on a variety of topics, written by various authors in a nonscholarly style. ...Most magazines are issued monthly or weekly for sale at newsstands, in bookstores, and by subscription."

Newspaper²

"A serial publication, usually printed on newsprint and issued daily, on certain days of the week, or weekly, containing news, editorial comment, regular columns, letters to the editor, cartoons, advertising, and other items of current and often local interest to a general readership. Some national newspapers are issued twice daily in early and late editions or in different editions for different regions of the country."

Peer-reviewed²

"Said of a scholarly journal that requires an article to be subjected to a process of critical evaluation by one or more experts on the subject, known as referees, responsible for determining if the subject of the article falls within the scope of the publication and for evaluating originality, quality of research, clarity of presentation, etc. Changes may be suggested to the author(s) before an article is finally accepted for publication. Some [research] databases allow search results to be limited to peer-reviewed journals."

Periodical¹

"A magazine or journal issued at regular or stated intervals (usually weekly, monthly, or quarterly)." May also refer to newspapers.

Refereed

see Peer-reviewed

Tabloid²

"A newspaper printed in a format half the size of an ordinary broadsheet newspaper, containing short news stories of a highly sensational and improbable nature, abundantly illustrated (usually with photographs), sold mainly at newsstands and in supermarkets."

Volume³

"A series of issues of a periodical, usually covering one calendar year."

Sources:

1. Oxford English Dictionary
2. Reitz, J. M. (2007, November 19). ODLIS: Online dictionary for library and information sicence. Libraries Unlimited. http://lu.com/odlis/
3. The Free Dictionary. (2009). Farlex. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/