Peer-reviewed sources are original research projects that scientists and researchers share and publish. These sources go through an extensive evaluation process by:
before they are published. You can access peer-reviewed sources through academic databases like EBSCOhost, JSTOR, and ProQuest.
Google Scholar is another place to find peer-reviewed sources
Peer-reviewed sources include, but aren't limited to:
EBSCOhost and ProQuest each have a special search filter for scholarly (peer-reviewed) articles.
However, JSTOR contains a large majority of peer-reviewed sources so there's no special filter for the database.
Follow this example for finding peer-reviewed sources in EBSCOhost.
| Step 1: Access the databases | Go to www.lindsey.edu/library and select A-Z Databases from the Library Collections menu. |
| Step 2: Log in to EBSCOhost |
Find and select EBSCOhost from the list. You may see a blue login screen open in a new browser tab. EBSCOhost requires every LWC student, faculty, and staff to sign in with their myLWC email and password because this resource is only available to those affiliated with LWC. |
| Step 3: Access EBSCOhost | After you log in, select EBSCOhost Web, which is the first option on this page. |
| Step 4: Select search options |
Imagine EBSCOhost as a tree. Each individual database in EBSCOhost is like an individual tree branch. We can search in EITHER all of them OR a selection of databases. On this page, EITHER select all databases OR select the subject-specific database(s) you need. |
| Step 5: Perform a search | Enter your keywords in the search bar. On the results page, search filters are found on the far left. Under Limit To, select Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals. All search entries considered peer-reviewed will appear. Continue manipulating all the filters to find the search results you specifically need. |
In ProQuest, you can search for peer-reviewed sources from the main page. Before you enter your keywords, checkmark the peer-reviewed box just below the search bar. This way, you will search for peer-reviewed sources from the beginning. If you miss this step, you can always apply this filter after you begin searching.
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"Academic" or "Research" |
Popular Newspaper & Magazines "General" or "Journalistic" |
| Authors are named and usually affiliated with an institution. | Authors are potentially anonymous. |
| Authors are subject matter experts. | Authors are journalists. |
| Articles are peer-reviewed. | Articles are not peer-reviewed. |
| Citation lists are lengthy and extensive. | Citation lists are little to non-existent. |
| Advertisements are limited. | Advertisements are everywhere. |
| Articles are lengthy and very detailed. | Articles are shorter and focus on general points. |
| Issues are published on a less frequent basis (semi-annually, quarterly, monthly). | Issues are published frequently (daily, weekly, monthly). |
| Target audiences are professionals, academics, and students. | Target audiences are the general public. |
| Titles typically include words like bulletin, journal, or review. | Titles do not typically include words like bulletin, journal, or review. Except "The Wall Street Journal," which is not a scholarly publication. |
Open access journals (OAJs) are journals that are freely available on the internet. You don't need a special membership or subscription to access the research available in them. OAJs are usually peer-reviewed, so they are also a great spot to find peer-reviewed sources. However, be sure to double-check before citing any articles for your assignments.
The Directory of Open Access Journals is a free, online database available to connect you with over 300 open access journals from around the world and in many subjects.
Here are some examples of subject-specific open access journals that you can use for your research!
Need one in a subject not listed here? Email the Library for assistance.
