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What is a peer-reviewed journal?

Question: What is a peer-reviewed journal?

Answer:

A scholarly periodical which requires that each article submitted for publication be judged by an independent panel of experts (scholarly or scientific peers). Articles not approved by a majority of these peers are not accepted for publication by the journal.

Peer-reviewed journals can be identified by their editorial statements or instructions to authors (usually in first few pages of the journal or at the end), and also by consulting Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory, available online at: http://www.library.uiuc.edu/orr/get.php?instid=258215

When searching full-text databases such as InfoTrac and EBSCO, a search can be limited to peer-reviewed or refereed sources simply by checking a box on the search screen.

Other common characteristics of scholarly, peer-reviewed, or refereed journal

• Formal in format
• Sources are cited with footnotes or a bibliography at the end of the article
• Authors are scholars and researchers in the field and are identified as such
• Purpose of the article is to publish the results of research
• Publisher may be a professional organization, research institution; usually not-for-profit
• Very little advertising
• Graphics are usually statistical illustrations, in black-and-white

Examples:

• American Journal of Public Health
• Annals of Behavioral Medicine
• Annals of Tourism Research
• British Journal of Audiology
• European Physical Education Review
• Journal of Aging Studies
• Journal of Communication Disorders
• Human Movement Science
• Sport Marketing Quarterly

Most of the journals in the AHS Library are peer-reviewed. When in doubt, consult Ulrich's at the url above.

For comments on this page contact: Mary Beth Allen

Last modified by: Mary Beth Allen on 7/21/09