Peer review is a review process by experts in a certain field (“peers”) to include articles in scholarly journals. This is a rigorous review process, which is meant to ensure that the highest academic standards are met and relevant research is produced. In masters and doctoral programs, you are expected to analyze and cite peer-reviewed articles. Keep in mind that even if a journal is considered peer-reviewed, not all of the articles will have been peer-reviewed. Commentaries, opinion articles, book reviews, letters to the editor, and the editor’s introduction likely have not gone through the peer-review process. To learn more about peer review:
- Overview document: What to expect during peer review, Author Services, Taylor & Francis
- Video: The peer review process explained defines peer-reviewed articles as scholarship and outlines the peer-review process towards publication
Finding Peer-reviewed sources
Use the database filters to your advantage to refine results based on scholarly or peer review status. Select the filter to see articles that have been peer reviewed as the example below:
*EBSCO database shown. Filters may appear slightly different in other databases.
How can I tell if something is peer-reviewed?
- The best place to find out if something is peer reviewed, is the publisher’s website. Look for information about submitting articles and/or information about the publishing process.
- Use the “Evaluate Information” section of ProQuest Research Companion to enter the journal name and see if it is peer-reviewed or scholarly.
