Evaluating Online Sources
Library Article Terms Q & A
What is a peer-reviewed article or journal?
Peer-reviewed means that articles before publication go through a rigorous process of review by experts in that subject field. This is to ensure that the articles meet the standards of that discipline. After the articles have been peer-reviewed, they are published in peer-reviewed journals.
Is peer-reviewed the same as the term refereed?
Yes, more or less. The review process by publication experts is different for each one.
What is a periodical?
The term periodical can apply to any journal, magazine, or newspaper that is published at regularly occurring intervals.
What is a scholarly journal?
A scholarly journal is a scholarly publication with multiple articles that is often subject specific or has a specific audience. Sometimes referred to as a periodical, because they are published at regularly occurring intervals.
What is a trade journal?
A trade journal is written by experts in a specific industry that discusses news, trends, and opinions. They are not scholarly journals because they are not peer-reviewed.
Why Use Scholarly?
Scholarly journals are written for and by people who work in academics: professors, researchers, undergraduate or graduate students. This type of article is best suited for your research because it is reliable and authoritative.
Types of Sources
From the Spencer School Library.
Is this Journal or Article Peer-Reviewed?
If you have a journal or article and you need to check if it is peer reviewed, use the Ulrich's Periodical Directory database.
- Enter the name of the journal that the article was published in the search bar.
- Look for the referee jersey icon or the line that says "Refereed: Yes."
- The term refereed is just another way of saying peer reviewed, so if you see either or both of those things, your journal is peer reviewed.
- If you don't see the icon or if the description of the journal says "Refereed: No," that journal is not peer reviewed.