CSUB 1029: First-Year Seminar

The key to good research is not just finding information on a topic, but also, and more importantly, finding quality information that is appropriate to your level of research. Take a look at the boxes below to help you determine whether a source should be used for your papers, speeches, or presentations.

What makes an article "peer-reviewed"?

• The article must be original, scholarly research conducted by experts within a field or discipline.
• Prior to publication, the work is reviewed by other scholars or experts within that same discipline.
• Peer-review ensures that the information being presented is based on solid evidence and scientific facts, not opinions.
• The peer-review process provides a level of quality control.
• Articles generally follow a traditional format with identifiable sections, such as Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Analysis, Discussion, Conclusion, and References.

Peer-reviewed articles are important not only because your professors will be requiring you to reference this level of scholarship in your assignments, but also because they represent the most scholarly, most authoritative information within the different disciplines.

PRO TIP:  The quality of the sources you cite in your paper will affect the overall quality of your paper. Better papers cite better sources. Why cite a magazine article that describes a study if you can find that study and cite it directly yourself?