Social Work Library Resources: Evaluating Resources

Articles from peer-reviewed journals (also called refereed journals) are often referred to as "scholarly articles" or "academic articles." 

When an article is peer-reviewed, that means the article was written by an expert in the field and reviewed by other experts before being published. 

Just because a scholarly journal is indexed in a database doesn't guarantee that it is peer-reviewed. Here are a couple ways to check.

1. Search for the journal title on our E-Journals page. If it is a peer-reviewed journal, you will see a graduation cap icon next to the words "Peer Reviewed."

2. Search for the journal title in Ulrichs Web Online. This website is a directory of journals. There may be multiple listings for the same journal (one for a print version of the journal, one for a digital version). If the journal is peer-reviewed, it will have a little black referee jersey icon next to its name.

3. Look on the journal's website for information about submission guidelines for authors. The peer-review process should be explained thoroughly. The journal should also have information about its editorial boards or reviewers on its website.

Author

• Who is the author?
• What kind of institution are they affiliated with? (Tip: Author affiliations are typically listed under the article title or on the first page of the publication)
• Does the author have any additional credentials, such as an academic degree?
• Has the author published other materials on the topic? 

Source and Publisher

• What's the source and format of the material? 
  • Is it a scholarly platform or popular media platform?
  • Is it primarily text-based or multimedia content?
• Who published the material?
  • Is it a professional association, an educational institution, a government agency, a non-profit agency, or a for-profit company?
  • Does the publisher have guidelines about what can get published?
  • Does the publisher have guidelines about how material is reviewed for accuracy?

Publication Date

• When was the material published? 
• If it was published recently, did it cite older publications that provide important background information?
• If it was NOT published recently, is the information still relevant and accurate? Are there newer resources that provide important updates?

References

• Does the author clearly cite their sources, both in the text and at the end with a complete bibliography?
• What sources is the author citing?
•  Can you locate these sources and analyze them for yourself?
  • Can you confirm that the author accurately cited the sources and did not misquote or take information out of context?

Content

• What is the purpose of the material? (i.e., to entertain, to inform, to persuade, to sell)
• Who is the intended audience?
• If the material is text-based, does it contain proper spelling and grammar?
• Does the material's tone come across as biased or emotional? 
• If the material is multimedia, can you detect any irregularities that may indicate it has been artificially manipulated? 

Review and Revisions

• Has the material been peer-reviewed or fact-checked by someone other than the author?
  • If so, is the reviewer or editor an expert in the field?
• Has the material been revised, updated, or retracted since it was originally published?

Funding and Conflicts of Interest

• Who is paying for the material to be published?
• Has the author indicated a funding source or listed a potential conflict of interest? (Tip: These are usually located at the very end of a scholarly article)

Understanding Assignments

Evaluating Print Sources

Reading in the Social Sciences

Annotating Texts

Reading Textbooks Effectively

Templates from the Learning Center

Download or print these templates to use while you read and work on assignments.

Note-Taking Template for Journal Articles

Reading Template