Organizational Leadership in Adult Learning

What are Peer-Reviewed Sources?

Peer-reviewed articles or sources, also known as scholarly articles or academic articles, are articles that are published in academic and scholarly publications with the intended audience of other researchers and experts or students in the field. These sources have been evaluated by other experts in the field to determine things like efficacy and quality of research. 

These articles are different than what you would find in a blog, newspaper, or magazine. They're written for the academic audience, not the general public. Their purpose is to inform and continue a scholarly conversation, not to entertain.

Why does this matter?

When you're researching a topic, it's important to look for information that's been reviewed by experts for accuracy and credibility. While peer-reviewed sources are not the only kind of valuable information, peer-reviewed research undergoes a process that makes it much more likely to be reliable and trustworthy. 

How can we identify Peer-Reviewed Sources?

Searching in library databases is the best and easiest way to find peer-reviewed sources, because these databases are made up of sources that have been curated specifically for academic research. This means they're more likely to include credible sources, and they come with filters you can select to ensure that you find peer-reviewed resources.

However, it's still important to pay attention to the information you're consuming, even in a library database. When reviewing a source, ask these questions to determine if you're reading a peer-reviewed article:

• Who published the article? Is it a source you recognize? If you're not sure, you can type the publication into any search engine and learn about their peer review process and their general credibility.
• Who wrote the article? Are the authors experts in their field?
• Does the article include headings like "methods" "results" "discussion" "analysis" and "conclusion"? These are signs of the academic process, and they're much more likely to be seen in a peer-reviewed source.
• Is there a bibliography, works cited, or reference list?

What is a scholarly source? By Lloyd Sealy Library