View this short video from NCSU libraries that explains the peer review process.
Scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles are the most appropriate sources to use in academic papers and projects, and they will be the best sources for primary research.
A scholarly, peer-reviewed article is one that is published only after undergoing scrutiny by several scholars, called reviewers, in the author's discipline, e.g., chemistry, history, etc. The reviewers do not know the identity of the submitting author and the author, likewise, does not know the identity of the reviewers. This method insures that the results of the peer-review process are fair and impartial. The reviewers may choose to reject the article for publication or recommend that the article be published either with or without suggested changes.
Popular, non-peer-reviewed articles are ones that do not undergo academic scrutiny; these kinds of articles are generally found in news magazines like Time and National Geographic.
Because so much of the information you find is downloaded from the Internet, it is often difficult to figure out if the article you printed or downloaded is a peer reviewed, scholarly article, and therefore suitable for academic work. Here are some quick ways you can figure out if your article is scholarly:
A. The author is a scholar. Look for a byline or a blurb that identifies the college or university where the author teaches. If no information is given, Google the author to find out.
B. There are extensive footnotes, showing the author's familiarity with and reliance on scholarship in the field.
C. The article is addressed to a knowledgeable audience, rather than to the general public.
Popular, non-peer-reviewed articles are ones that do not undergo academic scrutiny; these kinds of articles are generally found in news magazines like Time and National Geographic.