Nursing Research: Peer-Review

What is peer-reviewed?

Prior to publication, a material is submitted and must be reviewed by at least one expert in the field. Peer-review is when a group of experts in a specific subject review an author's research/scholarly work to ensure its quality and sustainability for publication. The peer-review process is considered necessary to ensure academic scientific quality. Articles, journals, reports, books, and other content can be considered peer review. The reviewers evaluate the research presented in the material. Scholarly sources that pass the peer-review process are published; when the scholarly work does not pass the peer review process will not be published as peer-reviewed. Dissertations are NOT peer-reviewed.

How do you I know if a journal/article is peer-reviewed?

• In EBSCO, it will say this: above the article's title.
• A journal's website will state if it is peer reviewed often on the main page or the "about" section.
• A physical journal states this on the inside front cover to see if there is information regarding peer-review, including an editorial board
• View this tutorial where a Concordia librarian shows you how to narrow down your database search for only peer-reviewed content.
• Many of CUC resources held in EBSCO are peer-reviewed and accessible to all CUC members.
• Google Scholar do NOT have a peer-review limiter (yet) so be careful if that is the route you choose