How To See If Article Is Peer-reviewed

So, there I was, knee-deep in research for my upcoming paper on the mating habits of the common housefly (don't ask, it's a long story). I'd found this amazing article that seemed to back up my theory that flies are secretly plotting world domination. But then, a little voice in my head whispered, "Is this even a real study, or just some fly-loving person's wild conspiracy theory?"

That's when I realized, I had no idea how to tell if an article was peer-reviewed or not. I mean, I knew it was important, but I'd always just assumed that if it was on the internet, it must be true, right? facepalm

What's Peer Review Anyway?

Alright, let's back up a bit. Peer review is like the scientific equivalent of a secret club. When a researcher submits their work, it gets sent to other experts in the field for critique. They check if the methods are sound, the results are accurate, and the conclusions make sense. If the reviewers give the thumbs up, the article gets published. It's like a stamp of approval from the scientific community.

So, how do you spot a peer-reviewed article? Grab a cup of coffee, and let's dive in.

Check the Publication

First things first, look at where the article is published. Is it in a journal you've never heard of? Does the website look like it was designed in the 90s? Red flags, my friend. Peer-reviewed articles usually appear in established academic journals with a reputation to uphold. They might not look as flashy as your average BuzzFeed article, but they're way more reliable.

Famous Peer Reviewed Journals at Indiana Mulquin blog

Here are a few tips to spot a legitimate journal:

• Check the About or Instructions for Authors page. A real journal will have clear guidelines for contributors and information about its peer-review process.
• Look for an Impact Factor. This is a measure of how much influence a journal has in its field. You can find it on Journal Citation Reports.
• Check if it's indexed. Databases like PubMed, Web of Science, or Scopus index many peer-reviewed journals. If the journal isn't indexed, it might not be legitimate.

Read the Article

Now, let's say you've found a journal that looks legit. Great! But don't celebrate just yet. You still need to check the article itself. Here's what to look for:

Scholarly or peer reviewed articles - Library DIY - Library Guides at

• Is it too good to be true? If the results seem too amazing to be real, they probably are. Peer-reviewed articles should be grounded in reality, not hype.
• Is it too vague? On the other hand, if the article is full of jargon but doesn't actually say anything, it might be hiding a lack of substance. Peer-reviewed articles should be clear and concise.
• Are the methods described? A good article will explain exactly how the research was done. If it's all a big mystery, it might be hiding something.
• Are there references? Peer-reviewed articles should be built on a foundation of previous research. If it doesn't reference any other studies, it might not be reliable.

Check the Authors

Finally, take a look at the authors. Are they affiliated with a real university or research institute? A quick Google search can usually tell you if they're legit. Also, check if they've published other articles. If they're established researchers, they'll have a long list of publications.

Now, you might be thinking, "This all sounds like a lot of work." And you're right, it can be. But remember, not all information on the internet is created equal. Taking the time to check if an article is peer-reviewed can save you from a lot of misinformation and embarrassment down the line.

So, back to my fly research. After all this, I found out that my amazing article was actually a hoax. But hey, at least I learned something, right? And now, so have you. Happy researching!