Q. How can I determine whether a journal is peer-reviewed?

Before determining whether a specific journal is peer-reviewed, it is important to understand what peer review means. For an explanation of peer review and the peer-review process, see the FAQ What is a peer-reviewed journal? at https://askusatthelibrary.liberty.edu/faq/168610.

If you are looking for peer-reviewed articles, see the FAQ How do I find peer-reviewed articles? at https://askusatthelibrary.liberty.edu/faq/273814.

Important Notes About Peer Review

Peer review is a characteristic of journals, not individual articles. It is determined on a journal-by-journal basis.

Only journals are peer-reviewed. Sources such as websites, books, book chapters, conference papers, reports, dissertations, and similar materials are generally not considered peer-reviewed journal literature.

Also, not everything published in a peer-reviewed journal is necessarily a peer-reviewed article. Many journals include content such as:

• Book reviews
• Letters to the editor
• Editorials
• Meeting announcements
• News items
• Corrections

These types of publications are typically not peer-reviewed, even when they appear in a peer-reviewed journal.

How Can I Tell Whether a Journal Is Peer-Reviewed?

If you have found an article—perhaps through Google Scholar or another database—and want to determine whether the journal is peer-reviewed, there are three common methods:

1. Check the Journal's Website

Most reputable journals have a journal homepage or "landing page." Search for the journal title in quotation marks using a search engine and look for information about the journal's editorial process. Many journals explicitly state that they are peer-reviewed or describe their peer-review procedures.

2. Search for the Journal in Journal Titles

From the Jerry Falwell Library homepage (https://www.liberty.edu/library/), select Journal Titles.

Enter the name of the journal. If Liberty subscribes to the journal, the record will often indicate whether the publication is peer-reviewed and whether it is available online or in print.

3. Search UlrichsWeb

UlrichsWeb is a directory of periodicals (publications issued periodically, such as journals and magazines).

On the Library's main page, go to Browse All Databases. Find UlrichsWeb. Search for the journal title in UlrichsWeb. In the journal record, look for the Refereed designation. It will be indicated by a small "book" logo. "Refereed" is a synonym for peer-reviewed. If the journal is marked as refereed, it is considered peer-reviewed.

What About DOIs?

A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) does not indicate whether a source is peer-reviewed.

• Not all articles with DOIs are peer-reviewed.
• Not all peer-reviewed articles have DOIs.

A DOI is simply a persistent identifier used to locate and cite digital content. It should not be used as evidence that a source is peer-reviewed.