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Peer Review

My professor told me that I had to get peer reviewed articles. Is there any way for me to search for only peer reviewed articles?

I found an article in GALILEO. Is it peer reviewed?

I found an article, but the database does not say if it is peer reviewed.

My professor told me that I had to get print articles. I found a print article, but how do I know if the article is peer reviewed?

But I’m a Distance Education student! I don’t have access to Ulrich’s. What do I do?

What is "peer review"?

"Peer review" (or "refereed journals") means that an article is reviewed by experts in that field before the article gets published. This means that if a scientist writes an article on stem cells, other experts on stem cells will review the article to make sure it’s of high enough quality to be published. The peer review (or referee) process insures that the research described in a journal's articles is sound and of high quality.

Also, peer review can be single-blind (meaning that the reviewers know who wrote the article), or double-blind (meaning that the reviewers do not know who wrote the article). Double-blind peer review is designed to increase objectivity in the review process.

My professor told me that I had to get peer reviewed articles. Is there any way for me to search for only peer reviewed articles?

Each database is different. Many databases do not allow you to search for only peer reviewed items.

However, some databases available through GALILEO do give you the option to search for only peer reviewed items:

This is a search for "stem cells" in the Academic Search Premier database. It shows that the option "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" has been selected.

Other databases separate results so that you can look at only peer reviewed items:

This is a search for "stem cells" in the CSA Natural Sciences database. It shows that there is a "Peer-Reviewed Journals" tab that can be selected to display only peer reviewed articles.

I found an article in GALILEO. Is it peer reviewed?

Again, each database is different. Some databases will allow you to click on the Publication Title or Source. This will often show whether an item is peer reviewed:

This is a detail record for an article in Academic Search Premier. It shows that you can select the "Source" (in this case Toxicology in Vitro) to see details about that source.

This is the detail record for the source Toxicology in Vitro. It shows that the next to "Peer Reviewed" is the option "yes." Therefore, we know that this journal is peer reviewed.

I found an article, but the database does not say if it is peer reviewed.

You will need to look in Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory to see if it is refereed. See below.

My professor told me that I had to get print articles. I found a print article, but how do I know if the article is peer reviewed?

We’ll use the example of an article from Marketing Science. Let’s say that I found this article:

This is the first page of the article "The Motion Picture Industry: Critical Issues in Practice, Current Research, and New Directions" from the journal Marketing Science.

After I’ve located the print article, I will need to look in Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory (REF ALCOVE Z6941 .U5) to see if it is refereed (Ulrich’s does not call it “peer reviewed”).

Ulrich’s is located in the Reference Alcove near the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor of Odum Library.

Ulrich’s arranges journals by subject and then by title. Since this article is from Marketing Science, I need to look under Business:

Once I locate the listing, I look for the arrow symbol to see if that journal is refereed.

This image shows the record for Marketing Science in Ulrich's. There is an arrow next to the title of Marketing Science, and at the bottom of the page a key shows that the arrow means "refereed".

Since this article is refereed, I know that I can use it for my paper.

But I’m a Distance Education student! I don’t have access to Ulrich’s. What do I do?

Almost all journals have websites which detail the review process for that journal. If I go to the Marketing Science website, I’ll look for the information about the article submission process, often called “Instructions to Authors.”

An image from the Marketing Science website, highlighting "Instructions to Authors."

Once I click on this link, I’ll look for information about the review process:

An image from the "Instructions to Authors" page of the Marketing Science website, highlighing the phrase "We use a double-blind review process."

I now know that Marketing Science is peer-reviewed.

For further help: Scholarly Journals vs. Trade Magazines vs. Popular Magazines

Ask Us (Chat Now), Tell Us about the Library web site. This document last modified Monday, 25-Aug-2008 11:52:55 EDT Staff