The process of peer review is one way in which credibility is established in scholarly literature. Peer-reviewed journals submit manuscripts for critique by scholars in the author's field before publication. This peer review is intended to ensure the articles reflect solid scholarship and advance the state of knowledge in a discipline.
This video explains peer review and its importance in the research process. (video courtesy of North Carolina State University Libraries)
How to tell if an article was peer reviewed?
1. Look for limits/filters
Many databases allow you to specify that you want to search only in “peer reviewed” or “refereed” sources.
2. Records for the journal in the Onesearch library catalog, , identify them as peer reviewed where applicable.
3. Search the web for information about the journal. Publishers maintain a website for each journal. Look for sections like “about this journal” or “editorial policies” to read whether the journal is described as being peer-reviewed/refereed.
An example can be seen under Overview on this journal's webpage.