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Finding & Evaluating Articles

What is a Peer-Reviewed Article?

A peer-reviewed article goes through a special process before it is published.

  1. Author submits their article to publication (usually a professional journal)
  2. A group of "peers," or other professionals in the same discipline, review the submitted article
  3. The peers then send the article back to the author with questions and/or revisions
  4. This back and forth process can last 6 months to a year
  5. Once the author and reviewers agree on the article, it is published.

Peer-Reviewed Articles in Databases

Most databases have an option to narrow down your search results to peer-reviewed articles. Here are a few examples:

  • Screenshot that shows a check box for peer-reviewed articles                       Screenshot of a checkbox that shows peer-reviewed articles

Other Ways to Identify Articles

Not sure if the article you found is peer-reviewed?

  • Type the name of the publication/journal into the library's catalog. Use the JOURNALS icon on the library's homepage. If it is peer-reviewed, you will see a purple icon that identifies it.

Screenshot showing the purple banner that says peer-reviewed

 

  • Google the name of the journal to find out more information. See the example below for the journal Psychology & Health

Sections of Peer Reviewed Articles