Yes—when a literature review appears in a peer-reviewed journal, it is peer-reviewed; course papers or thesis chapters are not.
A literature review collects, compares, and synthesizes what scholars have written on a topic. Some reviews map a field. Others answer a tight question with strict methods. The format varies, but the goal stays the same: show what we know, what we don’t, and where new work should go. Here’s the catch that confuses readers: the term “literature review” can mean a published article in a journal or a section inside a thesis, report, or grant. Only the first case is screened by external referees before publication. That single distinction drives most of the mixed answers people see online.
To make this clear at a glance, start with the main cases you’ll meet. This table sets realistic expectations about where peer review happens for each kind of review.
Common Review Types And Where Peer Review Applies
| Review Type | Usually Peer-Reviewed? | Where It Appears |
|---|---|---|
| Narrative Literature Review | Yes, when published as a journal article | Disciplinary journals; special issues; invited pieces |
| Systematic Review | Yes | Peer-reviewed journals; evidence syntheses outlets |
| Meta-Analysis | Yes | Methods-focused or topic journals; medical and social science titles |
| Scoping Review | Yes | Health sciences, education, and policy journals |
| Umbrella Review | Yes | Research synthesis journals; field overviews |
| Rapid Review | Usually | Clinically oriented and policy journals with fast turnaround |
| Course Assignment / Class Paper | No | University coursework; LMS upload; instructor feedback only |
| Thesis Or Dissertation Chapter | No (committee review, not journal peer review) | Institutional repository; departmental library |
| Preprint Of A Review | No (screened, not peer-reviewed) | Preprint servers |
| Conference Review Paper | Varies by conference | Proceedings; extended abstracts; invited talks |
Are Literature Reviews Peer-Reviewed In Journals?
Yes. Journal editors send review articles—narrative, systematic, scoping, and the rest—out to independent experts. Many journals require at least two referees and an editorial decision letter. Some use single-blind or double-blind models. Others run open review, where reports or reviewer names may be visible. The shared aim is to check field knowledge, methods, coverage, and clarity before publication. Editorial screens come first to confirm fit and basic quality, then the formal round starts. That process applies to research articles and review articles alike.
Medical evidence outlets are even stricter. Cochrane, for instance, commits to at least one content specialist and one methods or statistics reviewer for every review. Protocols also go through review to lock the question and methods before the authors begin. That policy keeps bias in check and reduces duplication in crowded topics.
What Counts As Peer Review?
Peer review is an expert check run by the journal, not by your advisor or committee. The editor invites qualified reviewers. They critique scope, search strategy, inclusion rules, bias risks, synthesis steps, and claims. They recommend accept, revise, or reject. The editor weighs those reports and issues a decision. That cycle repeats until the paper clears the bar or the editor stops the process. Many publishers describe this plainly: reviewers test a manuscript’s rigor and relevance so accepted work meets the journal’s standards.
When A Literature Review Is Not Peer-Reviewed
Plenty of documents use the same label without crossing a journal’s gate. A student paper surveys readings and cites sources, yet it never enters a publisher’s system. A thesis chapter may be excellent, but the committee is not the same as anonymous referees selected by an editor. A preprint gives fast access, yet it has not cleared independent review. These formats serve real purposes, and they can later become a journal article, but they do not count as peer-reviewed until the journal process has happened.
Edge Cases That Lead To Mixed Answers
- Conference reviews: some proceedings run external review; others rely on program committees. Check the event’s policy.
- Invited narrative pieces: even invited reviews often go to referees. Editors want balance and breadth.
- Topical collections and special issues: guest editors still use the publisher’s review flow in most series.
How To Tell If A Literature Review Was Peer-Reviewed
You don’t need guesswork. Use the journal site and a few quick checks. Look for a peer-review statement, the manuscript history dates, and indexing tags in databases. In health and social sciences, systematic reviews also report search and selection steps in a structured way. Many journals display “Received,” “Revised,” and “Accepted” dates on the article PDF or landing page. That timeline signals external review.
Two reputable guides help here. The Cochrane editorial policy spells out peer review for evidence syntheses, including reviewer roles. For reporting, the PRISMA 2020 statement lists the items a systematic review should document from question to results.
Quick Checks You Can Run In Minutes
- Confirm the venue: is the piece hosted by a peer-reviewed journal, a preprint server, or a campus repository?
- Find the policy: scan the journal’s “About” or “Peer review” page for the review model and criteria.
- Scan the manuscript history: look for “Received/Accepted” dates and revision cycles.
- Check the index: library databases often label “peer-reviewed” or “refereed.”
- Read the methods: systematic reviews include search strings, databases, selection criteria, and bias checks.
- Assess balance: a journal review weighs competing findings and limits; a class paper may read as a summary.
Peer-Reviewed Or Not? Practical Signals To Verify
| Check | What To Look For | Where To Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Journal Policy | Named review model; reviewer criteria; editor decision flow | Journal “About/Peer Review” page |
| Manuscript History | Received/Accepted dates; multiple revisions | Article landing page or PDF footer |
| Index Label | “Peer-reviewed” or “Refereed” tag | Library databases and catalog records |
| Methods Reporting | Search strategy, criteria, bias appraisal | Methods or appendix section |
| Publisher Reputation | Established house; clear ethics statements | Publisher site; editorial policies |
| Preprint Notice | “Not peer-reviewed” banner | Preprint server banner or metadata |
| Conference Policy | External referees vs. program review only | Proceedings or event site |
Why Review Articles Get Extra Scrutiny
Review papers can sway practice and funding because they summarize many studies. That influence means editors watch for selective citation, narrow searches, and spin. Good reviews show how sources were found, which studies were included, how quality was judged, and how results were combined. Many journals expect a protocol for systematic work before the authors run the search. That step reduces data dredging and lends confidence to the end product.
Editorial Models You’ll See
- Single-blind: reviewers see author names; authors don’t see reviewer names.
- Double-blind: names hidden both ways during review.
- Open review: names or reports published; sometimes both.
- Registered reports: methods peer-reviewed at the protocol stage, then results later.
Each model aims to improve fairness and clarity while keeping bar-raising feedback at the center. Publishers outline these models so authors and readers know how decisions were made.
Submission Tips If You’re Writing A Literature Review
Pick a journal that publishes the kind of review you plan to write. Read several recent examples to match scope and tone. If you’re writing a systematic review, draft a protocol and consider registration in a public registry that fits your field. Use an explicit search plan with multiple databases and dates. Record inclusion and exclusion rules before screening. Keep a log of reasons for exclusion. Use a structured tool to appraise bias. If you synthesize with meta-analysis, report the model, effect sizes, and heterogeneity checks. Share data and code when possible.
How Editors Read Your Manuscript
Editors look for a sharp question, complete coverage, fair treatment of disagreements, sound appraisal, and a clear take-home. They also want strong claims only where the evidence supports them. Many journals ask for a short statement on conflicts and funding even for reviews. That keeps the record clean and helps readers weigh any interests that might shape coverage.
Common Myths About Review Articles
- “All literature reviews are the same.” Not true. Narrative, scoping, and systematic reviews use different aims and methods.
- “If it cites lots of sources, it must be peer-reviewed.” No. A thesis chapter can cite dozens of papers without journal review.
- “Preprints mean the journal already approved it.” No. Preprints are posted before review.
- “Invited means no referees.” Most invited pieces still go through external checks.
Library Skills That Save Time
Use database filters for “peer-reviewed/refereed” when you search. Click through to the journal home page and read the policy in plain text. Save the article’s history dates for your records. When you evaluate a review, look for clear methods even in narrative work: What was searched? Which years? Which languages? How were studies grouped? Shortcuts here are red flags. Good writing still leaves a trail that another team could follow.
Where The Confusion Comes From
Two uses of one label. In daily speech, “literature review” can mean “the chapter I wrote for my degree.” In publishing, it means “an article genre that synthesizes a body of work.” The first lives inside a degree process. The second lives inside a journal system. Only the second goes through external referees. When someone asks, “Are literature reviews peer-reviewed?” the right answer depends on which sense they mean. In common search behavior, these two senses get tangled, so readers see mixed guidance across forums and Q&A pages. The fix is to name the venue first, then judge review status from there.
Are Literature Reviews Peer-Reviewed? Two Clear Rules
Rule one: if the literature review is published as an article in a peer-reviewed journal, it is peer-reviewed. Rule two: if it is a class assignment, a thesis chapter, a white paper, or a preprint, it is not peer-reviewed yet. Simple as that.
Bottom Line
You can trust a literature review’s peer-review status by checking the venue and the policy, then scanning the article history and methods. Journal reviews—narrative, scoping, systematic, meta-analytic—go through external checks before publication. Classroom papers and dissertation chapters do not. When someone asks, “Are Literature Reviews Peer-Reviewed?” point them to the journal page and the manuscript dates. Those two signals answer the question in minutes and help readers separate polished syntheses from early-stage work.