The Purpose of Peer-Reviewed Articles

Peer-reviewed articles are found in the most respected journals in all disciplines and fields of academia and professions. These articles are deemed trustworthy because they have been reviewed by the best scholars in the field for which they are being produced. Here's what a peer-reviewed article is, what its purpose is and why it is useful.

Definition

Peer-reviewed articles are reliable scholarly publications that are reviewed by experts in the field of the topic discussed. These reviewers are considered the author's peers or referees.

Significance

These articles are significant because they are regarded as worthy and relevant scholarship in the field. These articles are read by others in academia to expand scholarship.

Features

Peer-reviewed articles consist of an abstract that informs readers what the article is about, a small biography of the writer, and a guarantee that the work has been reviewed by other scholars. Be aware that just because one article in a journal is peer reviewed it does not mean each one is. You must read the journal's information and the article information be certain.

Time Frame

Peer-reviewed articles are subjected to an extensive review process that consists of an editor and then a board with three to five readers. The time line for submission to publication can be as long as nine to 18 months.

Location

Peer-reviewed articles can be found in referred journals. Journals whose content goes through a peer-review process will say so in the journal description. Peer-reviewed will also be imprinted at the beginning of individual articles when they are located in a database. A listing of peer-reviewed journals and periodicals is contained in Ulrich's Periodical Directory.

References

• University of Texas, Austin

Resources

• Ulrich's Periodical Directory