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 white login screen open in a new browser tab. Some databases may require a sign in if you are off campus because this resource is only available to those affiliated with LWC. |
| Step 3: Perform a search | Enter your keywords in the search bar. On the results page, search filters are under the search bar. Under Peer Reviewed, select the button and all search entries considered peer-reviewed will appear. Continue manipulating all the filters to find the search results you specifically need. When in doubt, any entry with a yellow check mark beside it will be peer reviewed. |
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 | Articles are not peer-reviewed.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.
