What is a peer-reviewed journal article?
Peer reviewed journal articles are original research, theoretical, or experimental analysis of a topic. These articles:
- contribute to the scholarly conversation on that topic.
- are written by subject experts, typically scholars with advanced degrees such as a PhD, and are read by other experts and students.
- go through a rigorous editorial process that involves review and approval by three of the author's peers.
- These peers are people who are experts in the same subject area and are recognized leaders in that field who have been asked to sit on the publication's editorial board.
- The peer review process for journal articles ensures the quality of published scholarship.
- During the review process, any identifying information about the author is removed (name, institution, etc.) to elimate bias or favoritism.
- After the article has been reviewed, it may be accepted, sent back for further editing, or rejected.
- It is extremely difficult to be published in a peer-reviewed journal
- Are considered scholarly material. All peer reviewed journals are scholarly, but not all scholarly journals are peer reviewed.
- Newspapers, magazines, trade journals, and websites are not peer reviewed publications.
- Not every article published in a peer reviewed journal is a research article. These journals also may contain book reviews and other content that are not peer reviewed research articles.
