Databases & Subject Guides: ENGL 1101: Guzman: Peer Review

Main Library & McBay Science Library

How to Verify Peer Review

How to Verify Peer Review

1. Try limiting your search in a database to “academic journals”, “peer-reviewed”, or “refereed” if available.

2. Conduct a web search on the journal title. Generally, the “about” section will indicate if it is peer-reviewed and how the process is vetted.

3. Access UlrichsWeb to search for the journal title and find the information.

Popular vs. Academic Chart

If you're not sure of an article you've found for your paper, check it against this chart to determine its appropriateness.

Type of Periodical	Scholarly Journal	Popular Magazine or Newspaper
Contents	Original Research In-Depth Analysis	Current Events / Popular topics / Interviews Not original research by the author
Writing Level	Technical language Assumes college education	Simple, elementary language Assumes only 8th grade education!
Authors	Researchers, Academics Experts in the subject they are writing about	Reporters Not subject experts
Sources	Almost always has a list of Works Cited Extensive documentation	Rarely documents sources Documentation vague (e.g. "A study was done...")
Published By	Scholarly societies, University Presses	Commercial publishers
Pictures	Few or no photographs Includes charts or tables	Many photographs and pictures
Examples	Sociological Review Journal of Asian Studies Journal of Philosophy	People Weekly Sports Illustrated New York Times Denver Post
Length	Tends to be longer	Tends to be shorter

Fundamentals of Peer Review

Fundamentals of Peer Review

(Zain Publications, 2023)

ENGL 1101: Guzman: Peer Review