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What are peer reviewed journals?

Definition of "peer reviewed"

Peer reviewed journals refer to scholarly journals that have their articles reviewed by peers before their publication. A peer reviewed article is a work that has been thoroughly assessed by an expert in the field, and based on its quality has been accepted to be published in a scholarly journal. The aim of peer reviewing is to publish articles that meet the standards established in each field. This way, peer reviewed articles that are published can be taken as models of research practices.

To be able to recognize such articles, take a look at our guide How to know if an article is peer reviewed.

Peer review process

Each work submitted for peer review has to undergo the following process to be published:

  1. The article must be submitted to a journal.
  2. The journal assigns the article to an expert in the field, who is considered the “peer”.
  3. The peer carefully examines the work, and checks the accuracy of the methodology and other processes.
  4. If deemed appropriate, the peer recommends more revisions.
  5. If the work proves to have a good quality, it is published. If it doesn’t meet the field’s standards, it’s rejected.

Types of peer review

Over time, different types of peer review have emerged. Here is a concise description of the most common types of peer review:

  • Single blind review: the names of the reviewers are hidden from the author. This is the most traditional and common method of peer reviewing
  • Double blind review: both the names of reviewer and the author are hidden from each other.
  • Triple-blind review: the reviewers’ and author’s names are hidden from each other.
  • Open review: this is a term that refers to multiple peer review models that have the goal of achieving full transparency during and after the peer review process. For example, when the reviewer and author know each other during the reviewing process.

Further reading

🧭 How to recognize peer-reviewed (refereed) journals

📠 Evaluating Information Sources: What Is A Peer-Reviewed Article?

🧨 The Peer Review Process

Frequently Asked Questions about peer reviewed journals

🎟️ What does 'peer reviewed' mean?

A peer reviewed article refers to a work that has been thoroughly assessed, and based on its quality has been accepted to be published in a scholarly journal.

🎫 Who is the peer in peer reviewed articles?

Once an article has been submitted for publication to a peer reviewed journal, the journal assigns the article to an expert in the field, who is considered the “peer”.

🛶 How can I find peer reviewed articles?

The easiest way to find a peer reviewed article is to narrow down the search in the "Advanced search" option. Then, mark the box that says "peer reviewed".

🛹 Which journals are peer reviewed?

The best source for peer reviewed journals is the Web of Science Master Journal List, available at: https://mjl.clarivate.com/search-results