Research Hacked: Peer Review

Become a source sleuth with this checklist!

1. Dig into the Journal's Website:

Head to the official website of the journal where the article is published. Look for sections titled "About the Journal," "For Authors," or "Peer Review Process." These sections often state if the journal uses peer review.
2.  Search the Journal Name:

Can't find anything on the website? Google the journal's name (not the article title) or look it up in the library's Publication Finder. Look for terms like "refereed" or "peer-reviewed" in the description.

3.  Scrutinize the Article Information:

Does the article list an "accepted" or "published" date? Peer-reviewed articles go through a process before publication and often have three (yes, 3!) dates on them: date submitted, date accepted, and date published.

4.  Pick Library Databases:

Did you find the article through the library's research databases? Did you limit your results to "peer reviewed"?

5.  Ask the Experts:

Still unsure? Don't hesitate to ask your instructor or a librarian for help! They're superstars at navigating the world of credible sources.