NATRS 461 Wildlife Ecology

"Peer-Review" is a way research enters the academic conversation

Peer Review is a process where other scholars in the same area of study as the research author(s) review the article before it is published. They look at the description of the study methods and results ("Does it make sense?") and assess if the article is describing something relevant and useful or new that would be helpful to share with other scholars in that field. 

If they decide the article looks like a useful contribution, they send it back to the scholarly journal, and the article is published. 

When you use and cite peer-reviewed journal articles as part of how you designed your study or evaluated your results, you are taking part in this ongoing academic conversation too! 

Scholarly, Academic, Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles - What Are They?

How can we identify a peer-reviewed article from a scholarly journal?

  1. Scholarly journals are often referred to as Academic Journals, Peer-Reviewed Journals, or Research Journals
     
  2. Purpose: Scholarly journals are educational and serve to share information and original research between scholars and other interested readers in particular academic disciplines. A "peer-reviewed" article will have gone through a review period with other scholars in the same field of study before it was accepted for publication:

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screenshot showing a peer-reviewed article's publication timeline, received in December 2015, published September 2016
 

  1. Subject Matter: Articles contain very specific and specialized information. Usually articles are reports of research on narrow and subtle aspects of a particular field of study:

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a journal article titled 'Evaluating ecological monitoring of civic environmental stewardship in the Green-Duwamish watershed, Washington'

  1. Format: Articles have abstracts that summarize the content of the article. Articles are often long and complex, typically with standardized sections such as Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Conclusion, and Discussion. 
     
  2. Bibliography: All sources are cited in a bibliography (a section often titled References or Works Cited)

Types of Research Articles & Reports (Peer-Reviewed and Not Peer-Reviewed)

An experimental research article ('peer-reviewed') should include:

  • An abstract that outlines what is being studied, and (briefly) how the experiment was set up (method). The abstract may also include a summary of the major Results / Discussion.
  • Methods / Data; Results; Discussion / Conclusion sections that outline how the experiment was set up and what the findings from the study were.
  • A list of related References

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screenshot of journal article abstract from "Waterbirds" (2016) - full citation below

Knight, E. C., Vennesland, R. G., & Winchester, N. N. (2016). Importance of proximity to foraging areas for the Pacific Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias fannini) nesting in a developed landscape. Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology, 39(2), 165+.

A literature review (or sometimes: "meta review" or "review") article that is 'peer-reviewed' should include:

  • Some initial research question  or practical application / "best practice"  it identifies as the focus of the review;
  • A summary of the relevant research connected to the question, either - 
    • Chronologically (by date - common when looking at "advances" or "developments" in a field of study)
    • By theme / treatment / application (may not be in date order - a common approach when looking at "best practice" or a practical application)
  • A comprehensive References list of cited studies

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screenshot of journal abstract on ecological monitoring (meta-review), citation below​​​​​​​

Sheppard, J. C., Ryan, C. M., & Blahna, D. J. (2017). Evaluating ecological monitoring of civic environmental stewardship in the Green-Duwamish watershed, Washington. Landscape and Urban Planning, 158, 87-95.

A government, county, city, or other agency report (not 'peer-reviewed') will often include:

  • Content written for lay-readers (non-experts, such as politicians, policy makers, public, etc)
  • Information on the status of tracked initiatives (may be data-related; or may not include exact field observation)
  • Mention of previous studies or initiatives outlining the problem or issue.
  • List of intended best-practices and/or future initiatives
  • A References list (may not include in-text citations) citing relevant studies, reports, and websites (often a mix of peer-reviewed research and government / trade publications). Some reports may not be formally published (internal agency data, etc.)

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WA State 2020 Report on the Status of Salmon in State Watersheds

State of Salmon in Washington Watersheds - https://stateofsalmon.wa.gov/

General newspaper / news wire / feature articles (not 'peer-reviewed') will usually...

  • Be written for a general audience (non-specialists, not familiar with the field).
  • Include general statements, summaries of the issue at hand and/or research findings
  • Not include a References section or other list of citations (may include a link to a report or study)

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news headline screenshot: "Northwest's Salmon Population May Be Running Out of Time" from The New York Times

Video: How Library Stuff Works: Scholarship as Conversation

Source: "How Library Stuff Works: Scholarship as Conversation" by McMaster Libraries, is licensed under a Standard YouTube License.

Learn how students are active participants in academic conversation with their peers, instructors, and all those who came before them.

Video Tutorial - How to Identify, Find, Use and Cite Scholarly (Peer-Reviewed) Journal Articles

Subjects: Natural Resources