To tell if an article is peer reviewed, start by checking the journal it appears in, then look at how and where the article is published, and finally examine the article’s own features and structure.

How to Tell if an Article Is Peer Reviewed

(Quick Scoop guide)

1. First, check the journal

You’re really asking two things: “Is this journal peer reviewed?” and “Is this specific piece a peer‑reviewed article (not an editorial or news item)?”

Use these steps:

  • Go to the journal’s official website and open the “About,” “Instructions for Authors,” or “Editorial Policy” page; look for phrases like “peer reviewed,” “refereed,” or “double‑blind review.”
  • Check if the journal is published by a university press, scholarly society, or professional association, which typically signals a peer‑reviewed framework.
  • Look the journal up in databases like Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, or Ulrichsweb; these tools often tag journals as “refereed” or indicate that they are scholarly peer‑reviewed titles.
  • Many library search tools have a checkbox for “scholarly/peer‑reviewed”; if all results from a journal show up only when that filter is on, that’s another strong signal.

Quick example: If you find an article in “Journal of Applied Psychology,” you’d visit the journal’s website, look for “About this journal,” and confirm it explicitly states that submitted manuscripts undergo peer review.

2. Confirm the article type (not just the journal)

Even in a peer‑reviewed journal, not everything is peer‑reviewed: editorials, letters, book reviews, and news pieces may bypass full review.

Check for:

  • A substantial reference list at the end; if there is no Works Cited / References / Bibliography section, it is not a peer‑reviewed research article.
  • Article labels such as “Original Article,” “Research Article,” “Review Article,” or “Systematic Review” rather than “Editorial,” “Letter,” or “News.”
  • Length and depth: peer‑reviewed articles are usually longer, detailed, and research‑focused, not a one‑page opinion piece.

Picture this: A two‑page “Commentary” with no methods or data, even in a serious journal, is almost never a peer‑reviewed research article.

3. Look for signature features inside the article

Peer‑reviewed research articles tend to have a recognizable structure and tone.

Typical features include:

  • An abstract summarizing the research at the beginning.
  • Clear sections: Introduction, Methods (or Methodology), Results, Discussion, and Conclusion; sometimes a Literature Review / Background section too.
  • In‑text citations throughout (e.g., “as shown by Smith (2022)”) and a complete reference list at the end.
  • Authors’ full names and institutional affiliations (universities, research institutes, hospitals, etc.).
  • Formal, academic tone rather than casual language or journalistic style.

If these pieces are missing, you may be looking at a magazine article, blog‑style commentary, or news piece, not a peer‑reviewed study.

4. Use databases and tools smartly

Modern search tools make this much easier than it used to be.

Helpful moves:

  • In academic databases (Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO, PubMed, etc.), apply the “peer‑reviewed” or “scholarly journals” filter before searching.
  • If you have the DOI (digital object identifier), paste it into a resolver like “doi.org/…” to get to the article’s official page; from there you can see the journal and confirm its peer‑reviewed status.
  • Use library help pages or FAQs—many library sites walk you step‑by‑step through checking if a journal is peer reviewed and may recommend specialized tools like Ulrichsweb or Journal Citation Reports.

5. Red flags and grey areas

Not everything that looks academic really has been through robust peer review.

Watch out for:

  • Journals that call themselves “international” or “scientific” but provide no clear description of their review process on the website.
  • Publishers listed on “predatory journal” watchlists or lacking any recognizable academic or professional backing.
  • Journals that promise unbelievably fast publication (like a few days from submission to acceptance) without specifying the review model.
  • Articles in peer‑reviewed journals that are clearly marked as “Editorial,” “Letter,” “News,” or “Book Review” rather than research articles. These are usually not peer‑reviewed articles, even though the journal is.

This grey area is why it’s crucial to evaluate both the journal and the specific article type.

6. Simple step‑by‑step checklist

Here’s a quick practical checklist you can run through each time:

  1. Identify the journal title (not just the article title).
  2. Visit the journal’s website and see if it declares a peer‑review process.
  3. (If you have access) Look up the journal in a reputable index (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Ulrichsweb).
  4. Confirm that your piece is a research or review article (not editorial/news/commentary) and check that it has an abstract, methods, results, and references.
  5. Verify that the article includes in‑text citations and a detailed reference list.
  6. When in doubt, ask a librarian, supervisor, or knowledgeable colleague—they often know journals in your field very well.

HTML mini‑table: quick visual guide

Below is a small HTML table you can reuse or embed if needed:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>What to check</th>
      <th>What you want to see</th>
      <th>What it suggests</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Journal website</td>
      <td>Mentions "peer reviewed" or "refereed" in About/Instructions for Authors</td>
      <td>Journal uses a peer review process [web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Databases/indexing</td>
      <td>Journal appears in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Ulrichsweb, etc.</td>
      <td>Recognized scholarly journal [web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Article structure</td>
      <td>Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, References</td>
      <td>Typical peer‑reviewed research article format [web:2][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Article type label</td>
      <td>"Research Article," "Original Article," or "Review Article"</td>
      <td>Likely peer‑reviewed content, not just opinion [web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Reference list</td>
      <td>Extensive citations at the end</td>
      <td>Scholarly work; lack of references is a strong warning sign [web:2][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Quick TL;DR

  • Make sure the journal explicitly uses peer review and appears in reputable scholarly indexes.
  • Confirm the article is a full research or review article with sections, data, and references, not just a short opinion or news piece.
  • When unsure, combine several checks and, if possible, ask a librarian or advisor to double‑check.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.