Helpful Tidbits

What is a peer-reviewed journal? 

Not all academic journals are peer-reviewed, and although writers are viewed as experts, they may have some ideas that are not completely true. Peer review is just another measure to make sure the content in published articles is completely accurate. This is a process that an article undergoes before it is published, meaning that it is more likely to be scientifically valid and reach reasonable conclusions. A peer-reviewed article is considered more credible than an open-access or non-peer-reviewed journal. 

Steps:

1. The article is submitted to a journal for publication

2. It is reviewed anonymously by different experts for content, methodology, and conclusions.

3. The researcher does not know the reviewers or their names. This is a "double-blind", which means people's bias cannot affect how the article is reviewed. Therefore, the article succeeds or fails on its own merit, not the reputation of the expert.

4. The researcher receives the article back and makes any necessary corrections or changes and then re-submits the article for publication.

How do you know if the journal is peer-reviewed?

• Limit your database search to peer-reviewed journals only.

• Refer to Ulrichsweb.com (UAF) or look closely at the print version cover

• Does it use technical terminology? Does the article format approximate the following: abstract, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, and references?

• Is advertising non-existent or kept to a minimum? Are there references listed in footnotes or bibliographies?