Healthcare Quality & Safety

In academic publishing, the goal of peer review is to access the quality of articles submitted for publication in a scholarly journal by experts in a specific field of research.  Before an article is deemed appropriate for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, it must undergo an evaluation process.

Step 1: Submission

• The author of the article submit it to the journal editor who forwards the article to experts in the field, after it has been processed through the relevant journal submission system.
• Because the reviewers specialize in the same scholarly area as the author, they are considered the author's peers, hence "peer-review."

Step 2:  Evaluation

• The impartial reviewers charged with carefully evaluating the quality of the submitted manuscript, often using their own evaluation criteria to assist the review process.
• Peer-reviewers check the validity of the research methodology and procedures.  In addition, they look for any unethical practice in the research or plagiarism. 

Step 3:  Recommendations

• Journal editors rely on reviewers to offer guidance on whether to accept or reject an article. 
• Reviewers recommend one of 3 options.  One, accept the manuscript as is, this is very rare. Two, if appropriate, reviewers will recommend the author makes revisions and then re-submits the article.  Three, reviewers may recommend the editor rejects the article.   

Holland,K., Duncombe, D., Dyas, E. & Meester, W. (Last updated 2014). Scopus Journal FAQs: Helping to improve the submission & success process for editors & publishers. Retrieved from https://www.elsevier.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/95118/SC_FAQ-content-selection-process-22092014.pdf

Follow these 5 steps for a successful search:

1.  Identify key concepts and think of synonyms for each concept.

• Watch this tutorial to learn more about key concepts.

2.  Build search statements using AND, OR, and sometimes NOT.

• Use AND to narrow your search and OR to broaden it.

• Learn more by watching this tutorial on Boolean operators.

3.  Choose the right databases and resources to search.

• PubMed is a good starting point for peer-reviewed research articles.

• Consider books and e-books for background information.

4.  Use filters to refine search results.

• PubMed has limits for language, patient age, publication type, date, and more.

5.  Chat with a Librarian if you get stuck or need any help!