Peer review is a crucial process in academic publishing, especially in criminal justice journals. It involves a rigorous evaluation of an article by experts in the field before it is accepted for publication. Peer review ensures (in an ideal world) that the research presented in the article is sound, credible, and contributes to the existing knowledge in the field.
In criminal justice research, peer-reviewed articles are considered the gold standard for academic sources. By citing peer-reviewed articles, students can be confident that the information they are using in their research is reliable and has been vetted by experts in the field. Peer-reviewed articles provide a foundation of credible information that supports a student’s argument or thesis and adds credibility to their work.
Criminal justice research often involves sensitive and complex issues, such as crime prevention, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. Peer-reviewed articles provide a level of scrutiny that helps ensure that the research is accurate and ethical. By using peer-reviewed articles, students can help ensure that their research is both credible and ethical.
Furthermore, criminal justice research often has real-world implications for policy and practice. Peer-reviewed articles are more likely to provide insights and recommendations that can be used to improve criminal justice policies and practices, as they have been reviewed by experts in the field who can attest to the validity of the research presented.
Pro Tip: Avoid Google Scholar. Use Criminal Justice Abstracts. Google Scholar pulls up lots of articles that may or may not be peer-reviewed (often, they are not!). The databases make it easy to sort. You’ve paid for the privilege, so by all means, use those expensive databases to save yourself some time and energy!
Checking the Databases
On databases like Criminal Justice Abstracts, you can usually identify whether an article is peer-reviewed by looking for a checkbox or a filter option for peer-reviewed articles.
Here’s how you can check if an article is peer-reviewed on Criminal Justice Abstracts:
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- Start by entering your search terms in the search bar and running the search.
- Once you get your search results, look for a filter option for “peer-reviewed” or “scholarly” articles on the left-hand side of the screen.
- Check the box next to “peer-reviewed” or “scholarly” and click “Apply” to filter the search results.
- The search results will now only display articles that have been peer-reviewed or are considered scholarly.
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Alternatively, you can also check the article itself to see if it is peer-reviewed. Look for information about the publication process and the review process. Peer-reviewed articles typically undergo a rigorous review process by experts in the field before they are published. Some articles may also include a statement indicating that they are peer-reviewed.
If you are still unsure whether an article is peer-reviewed, you can also try looking up the journal in which the article was published. Most academic journals have a peer-review process for articles they publish, so if the journal is peer-reviewed, it is likely that the article underwent a peer-review process as well.
Developed by Adam J. McKee.
Back to Research Tools Last Modified: 05/02/2023