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TCORE 112 Plankton to Porpoises: organisms of the Puget Sound Waters - Hunt: Peer Review

What exactly is peer-reviewed?

  • Peer reviewed (or refereed) articles have been read and evaluated by experts in the field prior to publication.
    • Data collection methods, result analyses and conculsions are evaluated to determine the quality of the research.
    • Reviewers consider if the research adds to the body of knowledge in a particular field of inquiry.
    • Reviewers need not agree with the opinions of the author.
  • Because an article is scholarly (written and published primarily for a scholarly audience) DOES NOT necessarily mean that it is peer reviewed.

How do I know if an article is peer reviewed?

  • Step 1:  Check the peer review status of the JOURNAL.
    • Search for your title in Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory (linked below).
    • When you find your journal, look for a "referee shirt" symbol.  The symbol will appear next to any journal title that is peer reviewed and/or refereed (interchangeable terms).

  • Step 2:  If the JOURNAL is peer reviewed, then assess the ARTICLE.
    • Is it a full research article?  If your article is a short news brief, an editorial, a letter to the editor, or a re-print of a conference proceeding, it is unlikely to be peer reviewed.