Peer Review Subject Guide

Definitions: Peer Review and Other Review Formats

Blind Review

Single Blind - Reviewer Knows Identity of Author, but Author Does not Know identity of Reviewer;
Double Blind- Neither Author Nor Reviewer Know Other's identity;
Reviewer Isn't Aware of the Credentials/ Name of the Author Submitting the Article;
Prevents Reviewers from Bringing Personal Bias to Bear on their Review

Editorial Review: (By Journal's Editors)

Article is Reviewed by the Editor(s) or an Editorial Board of the Journal Who May or May not have knowledge or Expertise in the Subject Covered by the Article;
Authorship is Known to the Reviewer;
Single Editor, Multiple Editors, Referees or Peer Reviewers;
Check for Accuracy;
Proper Method, Style

Peer Review:

Journal Article is Submitted for Rigorous Impartial Review by One or More Experts Prior to Publication
Validating Methodology; Checking Assumptions and Procedures, Corroborating Results
Experts on a Subject, Chosen by the Journal's Editor, to Check manuscript for Accuracy and Completeness, Assuring that it Meets the Research Standards of the Discipline
Article is Reviewed by Others in the Same Field, with the Same Credentials; Author's Peers
Scholarly Process Used in the Publication of Manuscripts and in the Awarding of Funding for Research
Forces Author(s) to Meet Standards of Their Discipline
Process Through Which Experts in a Field of Study Examine and Assess the quality of Articles Before they are Published
Insures that the Research Described is Sound and of High Quality
Unbiased, Independent Critical Assessment of Manuscripts Submitted to Journals by Experts Who are not part of the Editorial Staff
Review Done by Peers, Usually Practitioners and/or Academics in the Field
Process in Place for Review of Manuscripts by Someone Other than those Employed by the Publication

Refereed:

Synonymous with Peer Review;
An Article Which Has Been Carefully Reviewed and Scrutinized by Scholars or
Experts in the Research Topic Who are not Members of the Editorial Staff or Editorial Board;
Role of the Referee is Advisory, Editor is Under no Formal Obligation to Accept the Opinions of the Referees;
In Scientific Publication the Referees do not Act as a Group, do not Communicate
with Each Other, and Typically are not Aware of Each Other’s Identities;
Journal does not Publish Everything Sent to It;
Outside Reviewers Who are not Connected to the Publication

Scholarly Academic:

Best to Make the Scholarly/Non Scholarly Determination at the Article Level;
Journal that Publishes Primarily Research Articles that Have Gone Through Peer Review Process;
Describes an Audience for Journals – Geared to University or Research Level
Community;
Articles are Long in Nature, Use of Terms/Jargon Appropriate to Field of Study;
Includes References and/or Original Research;
Authored by Academic for a Target Audience that is Mainly Academic; Published by a Recognized Society with Academic Goals;
Articles are of Research Nature; Documented, Based on Some Type of Study or
Empirical Evidence;
Articles may Include Research, Development, News, Proceedings, or Transactions in a Particular Field;
Article with Footnotes and Extensive Bibliography may be Treated as
Academic/Scholarly;
Authors are Experts;
Audience is the Scholarly Reader, Such as Professors, Researchers, Students;
Usually Published by a Scholarly Publisher (Like a University Press);
May be Reviewed or Refereed Before Publication by an Editorial Board or Outside Scholars;
Author is a Scholar/Researcher/Professor/Expert in the Field;
Research Articles Whose Audience is Primarily Scholars/Researchers/Experts;
Aimed at Professionals in the Field who are Interested in Research about Their Profession.

Resources Used:

Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals (Meriam Library, California State University Chico) http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/scholchart.pdf

Document Types http://www.cinahl.com/library/doctypes.htm

Peer Review Definition http://www.google.com
(Search: Definition Peer Review)

Scholarly Journals Versus Other Periodicals (Amarillo College Library)

Sense About Science 2004 (London) http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/ Peer Review and the Acceptance of New Scientific Ideas

Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication http://www.icmje.org

What is a Refereed/Peer Reviewed Article (University Of North Florida) http://www.unf.edu/library/guides/refereedarticle.html

What is a Refereed Journal? Cabell's Directory of Publishing Opportunities in Educational Curriculum and Methods/Cabell's Directory of Publishing Opportunities in Educational Psychology and Administration
http://www.cabells.com/using.aspx#x1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/peer_review