Title: Peer Review
Course: SOC 210 RTZ

What is a Peer-Reviewed Article?

You will be expected to cite scholarly or peer-reviewed articles for most of your papers or projects in this Sociology capstone. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they amount to much the same thing. A scholarly journal is one that contains articles authored by experts and reviewed by other experts. Peer-review is the accepted method for ensuring that information is of the highest quality.

The "peers" who evaluate articles before they are published are called referees; sometimes you will hear the phrase refereed journal rather than peer-reviewed journal -- don't worry, they mean the same thing. Experts in Sociology vet submitted articles using the discipline's strict criteria for quality, relevancy, and timeliness. The article will be published only if it passes this peer review process.

It is important to keep in mind that even though a particular journal may be peer reviewed, it may also contain some articles such as news items, editorials, and book reviews that have not gone through the peer-review process.

Limiting to Scholarly/Peer-Reviewed Journals in Databases

Many of our databases have a limit function that narrows your search to journals that are peer-reviewed.

Try a search in Academic Search Premier and use the "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" checkbox under the header "Limit Your Results."

What is a Magazine? What is a Journal?

Magazines | Journals
Examples: Time, Life, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, Popular Science | Examples: Sociological Quarterly, American Journal of Sociology, Gender and Society, Social Justice, Journal of Homosexuality
Audience: General public to knowledgeable layperson | Audience: Scholars, specialists, and students
Author(s): Professional journalists; not necessarily specialists in the field; poets and writers of fiction, essayists | Author(s): Specialists in the field; usually scholars with PhDs.
Content: Popular topics; current affairs; general discussion; editorial opinion; graphics; photographs; advertisements; usually no bibliography or list of sources | Content: Research results, frequently theoretical in nature; detailed examination; statistical analysis; specialized vocabulary; graphics; bibliography usually included
Abstract: Not included | Abstract: Usually included
Bibliography: Not included | Bibliography: Included as works cited; references, etc.
Primary Source: First hand accounts; original reporting; etc. | Primary Source: Reports of original research; case studies; clinical studies; etc.
Slant: May reflect the editorial bias / slant of the magazine | Slant: Supposed to present objective/neutral viewpoint; may be difficult to comprehend because of technical language or jargon; often sponsored by professional associations
Magazines are often sold on the newsstand and in many cases may have a more graphic look with more advertising and photographs and slicker paper. | Journals are often produced by the academic community; sometimes they are a benefit of membership to a society or organization. In many cases journals may have a more scholarly appearance.

Prefer a visual explanation of these differences?

http://youtu.be/VeyR30Yq1tA

"Scholarly vs. Popular Periodicals" from Vanderbelt University's Peabody Library.

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