How to find out if an article has been peer-reviewed

Peer-reviewed articles will have been scrutinised by a panel of academic researchers and assessed for quality. Only if they they are considered to be of a high enough standard will they be published. This means that peer-reviewed materials have the greatest authority.

You can find out if a source has been peer-reviewed in the following ways:

• If searching with DISCOVER tick the box for "peer-reviewed". This is on the Advanced Search page. You must tick the peer-reviewed box before you press search, then all your results will come from peer-reviewed material.
• If you're using a print journal check out the "Instructions for Contributor's" page - usually at the front or back of the journal. It should tell you if the journal is peer-reviewed.
• Go to the journal's home page. You can easily find this by typing its name into nay search engine. The "About" section should tell you if the journal is peer-reviewed.
• Ask your librarian! If you're not sure remember you can always drop me an email with the details at sally.fensome@beds.ac.uk