A peer-reviewed article is a scholarly article that is reviewed and approved by experts before it is accepted for publication.
There are peer-reviewed journals covering virtually every field of study. Each peer-reviewed journal has it's own editorial board of experts. Peer-reviewed journals are characterized by being explicit and transparent in their scholarly mission, free of advertisers, and unbiased.
The value of peer-reviewed journal articles is that they have met the highest standards of scholarship within their field.
Examples of peer-reviewed journal titles:
- Journal of Environmental Systems
- Feminist Review
- Nordic Irish Studies
There tends to be an identifiable naming convention for peer-reviewed journals; many peer-reviewed journals utilize in their titles the words: 'Journal', 'Review', 'Studies', 'Quarterly', 'Annals', 'Research'. However, this is not a strict rule, and there are peer-reviewed journals that do not follow the naming convention.
Peer-reviewed journals appear in multiple formats, including: print only, online only, and print and online. Many are open access, but most require a subscription for access.
For additional information about peer-review, please view this What's Peer Review? libguide. If you need any research assistance, feel free to contact us at Ask A Librarian.
