Q. How do I know whether the article I found is peer reviewed or refereed?

Answered By: Kathryn Ray
Last Updated: Mar 14, 2024     Views: 235

"Peer reviewed" means that a scholarly article has been examined by a group of experts in the subject area who verify that sound research methods were used and that the article meets the strict standards set by the scholarly publisher.

There are multiple ways to determine whether an article is peer reviewed (sometimes referred to as "refereed.")

No matter which method you use, first look at the end of the article for a list of citations (Works Cited, Bibliography or Reference List).  If there is none, then it is not a peer reviewed article, even if it appears in a peer reviewed journal.  All peer reviewed/refereed articles have a list of sources with complete citations.

If you find a list of citations, next you determine whether the journal in which the article appeared is peer reviewed.

There are several ways to determine whether a journal is peer reviewed. The fastest way is to use the database Ulrichsweb, a source of detailed information on more than 300,000 periodicals (also called serials) of all types: academic and scholarly journals, e-journals, peer-reviewed titles, popular magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and more.  To find AU's Ulrichsweb, go to the library's homepage under Research Assistance > Databases > U > Ulrichsweb.  In the search box, type the title of the journal (not the title of the article).  If the journal is peer reviewed/refereed, it will display a black striped icon next to the title. 

Another way to determine whether the article is peer reviewed is to consult the database Journal Citation Reports (JCR). To find JCR, go to the library's homepage under Research Assistance > Databases > J > Journal Citation Reports (JCR)  In the search box type in the title of the journal (not the title of the article).  If it's listed, it's a peer reviewed journal. JCR does not cover all subject areas, so if you do not find the journal, it still may be peer-reviewed.

To research journal rankings and impact factor, take a look at this FAQ answer.

If you would like further assistance, please Ask-A-Librarian.

 

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