Non-Peer-Reviewed Sources
Is everything in a peer-reviewed journal peer-reviewed?
What should I avoid when looking for peer-reviewed material?
There are some kinds of publications that should be avoided when searching for peer-reviewed material. They are:
- Newspapers: Newspaper articles aren’t written by experts on their topics. While they do undergo review by an editor, they don’t receive peer review and are often biased to some degree. This doesn’t negate their value, however, as tools to establish current or historical context.
- Magazines: Similarly to newspaper articles, magazine articles might be edited, but they usually don’t get peer-reviewed. These can also be tools used to establish public opinion about a topic, or to gain current or historical context.
- Ads, other sponsored material: Advertisements (which include material labeled as “sponsored”) are paid for by companies or individuals intending to promote something for sale or similar purposes. They are unlikely to be seen in peer-reviewed publications.
- Editorials, opinion pieces: Editorials and/or opinion pieces are written by a single author to give their opinion on a topic. They aren’t reviewed for publication.
- Book Reviews: Book reviews are sometimes included in peer-reviewed publications. They can be full of useful information on whether a book is a good source; they are not, however, reviewed themselves.
- Conference proceedings: Conference proceedings may appear in academic or professional journals. They aren’t peer-reviewed, since they simply list what sessions took place at a given conference.
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