This short Library video will define peer review and discuss why it is important to your research

What is Peer Review?

Peer review is a process designed to ensure the quality of scholarly journal articles. Before a scholarly article is accepted for publication, it is read and edited by a volunteer group of subject experts who check to ensure that the information in the article can be substantiated by the research. After review, this panel of experts recommends that the article be accepted, rejected or revised and resubmitted.

How does it work?

First, a paper is submitted to an academic journal where it is screened by an editor. This editor rejects or accepts the article. If accepted, the journal then sends the article to experts in the subject area. These subject experts are the peer reviewers, also called referees. Peer reviewers check the article for accuracy and bias before they advise the journal editor to accept, reject, or revise the article. Peer reviewers check for originality, significance, reproducibility, and quality of the paper's content. As experts in the field referees help ensure that the article adds something new to the field. If revisions are requested, the journal editor will send the article back to the author to make changes based on the reviewers' suggestions. 

Once any requested revisions are made the journal publishes the article. While both popular and scholarly articles go through an editorial process only scholarly articles are subject to peer review. The peer review process can take a long time and is part of the reason that scholarly publishing can take much longer than traditional publishing. Many databases actually let you narrow your search results to included only peer-reviewed articles.

If you need help finding peer reviewed articles or want to know whether an article is peer reviewed, Ask Us. Chat, E-mail, phone, or drop by. This concludes the short library video on peer review

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