Case Study Assignment

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Understanding peer review and its process

Where do I find peer reviewed articles?

Peer reviewed articles are published in peer reviewed journals, sometimes referred to as scholarly or refereed journals. Peer reviewed journals have a narrow scholarly focus, and are written by experts, for experts.

What do peer reviewed articles look like?

Peer reviewed articles have a standard format. •often have multiple authors.  Authors’   credentials are listed. •an abstract with a description of a study done by the authors •data from original research done by the authors •written by professionals for other professionals

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Peer reviewed articles are published in print format, usually found in libraries; they are also published in electronic format and packaged in databases that libraries purchase. In both cases, they are often much more expensive than popular magazines.

Some databases with peer reviewed articles: JSTOR, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, Academic Search Premier, and Academic OneFile. PCC Library also has other article databases with peer reviewed articles.

News and magazines articles are fact-checked & edited before publication, but peer reviewed articles go through more rigorous screening before publication in a journal. •Experts or professionals conduct a study •They write an article about their study •They send a draft of the article to journal editor, who sends the article to other experts (peers of the authors) for review prior to publication •experts verify that data collection & analysis were valid, and the conclusions logical; suggest revisions •Journal editor returns draft article to authors for revision. •Article is published

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Editor sends copy to a peer (expert in the

field) for checking

Peer checks many aspects. For

example, that methodology of

argument is sound and data correct

Paper accepted and published, then usually listed in

databases for other researchers to find and read, to inform

their writing

Author writes article and submits to

journal

Peer Review Process

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Title and author format

Methods and data presentation

Abstract

References

Multiple authors

Authors’  professional  credentials  given

Key phrases in the abstract: This  study… It  finds… …demonstrates… …  15-30%...

Parts of a peer reviewed article

Abstract. Typically an indented paragraph explaining the experiment or study performed by the authors. Read this carefully.  Look  for  clue  phrases  such  as  “we  investigated”  and  for  numbers  and  statistics. Introduction.  Discusses  the  authors’  motivation  for  their  research,  and  previous  research  they  built  upon. Methods. Gives details about how the research was carried out so it could be replicated Discussion. Results and support for conclusion. Conclusion. What the authors drew from their experiment or investigation References.  A  list  of  previous  research  that  the  authors’  built  upon.

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