The Research Process: Peer Review
What does "peer reviewed" mean?
A peer reviewed (or refereed) article has been read, evaluated, and approved for publication by scholars with expertise and knowledge related to the article’s subjects and contents. This process helps insure that articles provide accurate, verifiable, and valuable contributions to a field of study.
- The peer-review process is anonymous, to prevent personal biases and favoritism from affecting the outcomes. Reviewers read manuscripts that omit the names of the author(s). When the reviewers’ feedback is given to the author(s), the reviewers’ names are omitted.
- Editors of journals select reviewers who are experts in the subjects addressed in the article. Reviewers consider the clarity and validity of the research and whether it offers original and important knowledge to a particular field of study.
- Because an article is scholarly (written and published primarily for a scholarly audience) DOES NOT necessarily mean that it is peer reviewed.
Limiting to Peer Review in Databases
In many databases you can limit your search to include only journals that use the peer review process for research articles. Note: not all articles in peer reviewed journals have gone through the process. Your search results may contain editorials, commentaries, letters, and book reviews that are not peer reviewed.
In EBSCO databases
Before searching, under Limits, check the box next to Peer Reviewed.
In ProQuest Databases
Before searching, next to Limit to, check the box next to Peer Reviewed.
Determining if a Journal is Peer Reviewed
Use Ulrichsweb
Search for the journal title. On the result screen, look for the "referee shirt" symbol next to the jounal title.
Note: If you do not see the symbol, click on the journal title. Next to Refereed, look for YES. Refereed = Peer Reviewed.
Remember that not all articles in peer reviewed journals have gone through the process. These journals may contain editorials, commentaries, letters, and book reviews that are not peer reviewed.