Determining if an article is scholarly or peer reviewed is not always straightforward.
Look for the following characteristics to help you determine if the article is scholarly or peer reviewed:
- The article has been published in a scholarly or peer reviewed journal.
Not sure if the journal is scholarly or peer reviewed?
- Review the reading Scholarly vs. Popular Periodicals
- Ask a librarian
- Check Ulrichsweb by searching for the ISSN of the journal or the title of the journal.
Not all articles published in a scholarly or peer-reviewed journal are scholarly/peer reviewed! Articles that may appear in a scholarly/peer-reviewed journal that are not scholarly may be editorials, opinion articles, book reviews, letters to the editor, and more.
- Author credentials are visible. Author(s) appear to be experts in the field. Author contact information is provided.
- Article has the structure of a scholarly or peer reviewed journal, which includes:
- An abstract or summary
- An introduction
- A methods or methodology section
- A findings or results section
- A discussion section
- A conclusion
- A list of cited references or works cited
- Article does not contain glossy photos; Article may contain graphics, tables or charts.
When in doubt Ask a librarian whether or not a specific article is scholarly or peer reviewed.
