Help with parts of the research process

Need peer-reviewed journal articles?

 

The resources listed below also provide a similar filter:

EBSCO record with peer rreviewd limit feature

Reading strategies

Confirming a journal is peer-reviewed:

How to evaluate articles and journals

One of the most common questions librarians and instructors get from students is, "How do I evaluate an article or/and a journal?". Here are some questions you can ask yourself when evaluating an article. 

What? 

  • What is the subject of the article? 
  • Is it relevant to your research?
  • Does it add to the information you've already found or provide a new perspective? 

When? 

  • When was the article published? This is especially important. Are you looking for historical information or the latest information out there? 
  • Is it recent enough for your research needs? 

Why? 

  • Why was the article written - what is its purpose? 
  • Do they describe their research methods and cite appropriate sources? 
  • Is it presenting research, making an argument, or giving an opinion? 

Who? 

  • Who wrote the article? 
  • What credentials do they have? 
  • Who is on the editorial board for the journal? What credentials do they have? 

Where? 

  • Which journal published the article? 
  • Is the journal published by a scholarly organization or academic publisher? 
  • Where was the research conducted? 
  • Would research in another country or region be relevant to your research topic? 

How?

  • How have the authors conducted their research or made their arguments?
  • Do they describe their research methods and cite appropriate sources?