When your professor asks you to use or find something that is peer-reviewed, it means that they are asking you to find an article that is submitted to and published in a scholarly or academic journal. Articles that are published in a scholarly/ academic journal undergo the peer-review process, in order to make sure that the information being shared is viable, credible and true. To learn more about the peer-review process, check out the video below!
An original research article will have the following elements:
If you do not see all of the above mentioned, most likely you are not looking at an original research article.
Eastern Washington University Libraries. (2020, November 3). Types of scholarly articles [LibGuide]. https://research.ewu.edu/scholarly_articles/types
UCMerced Library. (2020, July 14). Types of scholarly articles [LibGuide]. https://libguides.ucmerced.edu/wri105_downey
libncsu. (2014, May 1). Peer review in 3 minutes [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/rOCQZ7QnoN0
If your professor asks you to use a research article, does this mean that you can use any peer-reviewed article?
No!
While all research articles are peer-reviewed, there are many different types of articles that are submitted to a scholarly/ academic journal. You need to closely read the abstract and potentially the first page of an article in order to determine what type of article it is. For example, letters to the editor or an editorial piece will be included in your search results list, even after applying a 'Peer-Review' or 'Scholarly/ Academic Journal' filter, as these pieces are included in a journal subscription.
Research articles will either be original research or a review on the available research that is on your topic. If your professor requires a research article, most likely they are asking you find an original research study. If they are asking you to use a peer-review article, then the article can be on really anything, as long as it is not an editorial piece, as these contain mostly opinions and thoughts without the use of evidence to back-up what is being said.
Peer-review articles will be found in scholarly/ academic journals. There are a couple of places you can go in order to find peer-review articles.
1. Subject specific databases or journals available through the Felician University Library
3. PubMed
In order to find the best information, you will need to search through all available resources. This means searching through both CINAHL Ultimate and ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health, as they contain the most nursing resources.