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BUSN/ECON 380: Research Methods in Business/Economics

What is Peer Review

What is Peer Review?

Peer review is the academic standard for original, quality scholarship.

The purpose of peer reviewed publications is to report on original research and make information available to the academic world.

 

The Process of Peer Review:

The author's peers read a paper submitted for publication.

Several recognized researchers in the field evaluate an article and recommend its publication, revision, or rejection.

Peer review looks for validity, originality, clarity, completeness.

Articles accepted for publication after peer review meet the discipline's standards of expertise.

Books and Book Chapters also go through Peer Review!

 

Elements of Peer Review

  • Articles are signed and have extensive notes and bibliographies.
  • Articles are published in journals of academic presses and scientific societies.
  • Abstracts, descriptive summary of the article
  • Footnotes and Bibliographies cite sources. They are lengthy and cite other scholarly writings.
  • Written by scholars or researchers in the field. Author affiliations are listed - universities, research institutions.
  • The language is of the discipline covered, and assumes knowledge or technical background.
  • Published by universities, research institutions, or specific academic organizations.
  • Text is often dense and complex. Images, diagrams, charts, and data reflect the research reported on.

Where to Search for Peer Reviewed Sources

The best place to start your search for peer reviewed articles is in a Library Database. After conducting your initial keyword search, look for a checkbox with the words “peer reviewed” to limit your article results to peer reviewed articles. This option is often found on either the right or the left side of the results page in a database.