Peer-Reviewed Journals in Education and Psychology

Overview
Peer Review Process
Scholarly Jounals
Popular Magazines
Distinguish between peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed.
Examples-Peer-reviewed
Examples-Popular
How to Find

Overview

This guide describes the peer review process and distinguishes peer reviewed articles and scholarly journals from popular magazines. Be sure to check with your instructor or a librarian, if you are unsure whether a source is a scholarly or peer reviewed resource for your topic.

Peer-reviewed journals

Peer-reviewed journals undertake rigorous protocols in the selection and publishing of articles. Drafts of articles undego critical review and assessment by other scholars in the author's field before they are accepted for publication.

Scholarly journals

Scholarly journals contain peer-reviewed articles, have certain characteristics and adhere to high standards in publishing.

• Authors are scholars, professors, or professionals in the field.
• Content refers to or demonstrates original research in a specialized field and is written for an audience of scholars, experts and researchers.
• Most articles are peer reviewed or refereed by scholars in the field.
• Referees are frequently not employed directly by the journal.
• Articles cite their sources and include footnotes and/or a bibliography.
• Few or no advertisements appear in the journal.
• Graphics are rare, and journals are largely text only.
• Issues usually appear less frequently, such as bi-annually, quarterly or monthly..
• Scholarly journals are indexed in specialized databases, such as PsycInfo, Education Index, ERIC or Education Research Abstracts.

Popular Magazines

Popular magazines have different publishing guidelines and are written for a general, non-scholarly, though sometimes specialized audience:

• Authors may be journalists, free-lance writers, or scholars who are not well known in a field.
• Content covers topics of general interest or newsworthy material.
• Articles are written for the general public or a special segment of the public as an audience.
• Magazines rarely cite sources or provide bibliographies, although original or scholarly sources may be mentioned.
• Articles are selected by the editorialstaff of the magazine.
• Magazines contain colorful advertisements and graphics, often unrelated to the content of the magazine.
• Magazines are published more frequently, such as weekly or monthly.
• Articles are indexed in general databases, such as Academic Search Complete, Lexis-Nexis, or ProQuest.

Why is it important to distinguish between peer-reviewed and popular articles?

Research gains credibility and respect when it demonstrates review of other scholarly literature and an examination of both primary and secondary sources. Peer-reviewed articles are ranked with greater authority and significance and, although highly specialized, are generally considered to have an objective or neutral viewpoint. Peer-reviewed articles are written by experts in the field and are often based on empirical studies.

Popular magazines offer editorial opinions, general discussion, current topics, graphics, photography, media, and advertisements. Popular articles may be primary sources if they tell a first-hand account or present original reporting; however, they may also reflect the editorial bias of the magazine.

Peer-reviewed journals - Examples

Adult Education Quarterly
American Behavioral Scientist
American Educational Research Journal
American Journal of Education
American Journal of Family Therapy
Biological Psychology

Popular Magazines - Examples

Newsweek
Oprah
Parents
Popular Science
Psychology Today
Time

How to find peer-reviewed or popular articles.

Use indexing and abstracting databases to find articles at the UC Berkeley Library. For access to peer-reviewed articles, the Library licenses several databases for education and psychology. Included are PsycInfo, ERIC, and Education Index.

To see a list of leading scholarly journals in either education or psychology, check ISI's Journal Citation Reports. For lists of journals see Weblinks for Education and Weblinks for Psychology.

For access to popular articles, the UC Berkeley Library licenses several indexes and databases, including Academic Search Complete, Lexis-Nexis, Periodicals Contents Index, Project Muse, ProQuest, and Readers Guide Retro.