About Scholarly/Peer-Reviewed Sources

Scholarly articles, also referred to as academic, peer-reviewed, or refereed, are often published in academic journals (print and electronic), and are written by experts in their respective fields of research. These articles are reviewed by editors and other experts for accuracy and validity prior to publication. 

When a source is peer-reviewed, it undergoes the assessment of a review board of colleagues in the author’s field. They evaluate the source as valid scholarly research for a particular subject or discipline and then make recommendations regarding revisions, publication, or rejection of publication. In some instances, an article can go through the peer-review process additional times due to recommended revisions and updates as new data and information become available. 

Some areas of study may not have an abundance of scholarly/peer-reviewed resources available due to the subject not often requiring the research review process. Some examples are Fine Arts, History, Literature, and Writing.

Common Features of Scholarly/Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Articles always provide the name of the author(s).
• Authors usually possess upper-level academic credentials and are in research professions (e.g. M.D., Ph.D., Master's Degree; Astrophysicist, Biologist, Chemist, Medical Doctor).
• Authors write using the language and terminology of the discipline (e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Medical, Physics).
• Authors are often associated with universities, hospitals/medical institutions, or professional research organizations.
• Articles are written in a professional and direct tone.
• The intended audience is primarily scholars and researchers.
• Articles may contain detailed charts, diagrams, or graphs.
• Authors always cite their sources in bibliographies (reference or works cited page), in-text, or footnotes.

If an article does not include cited sources, it cannot be considered a scholarly resource.