Scan the journal’s policy, verify the title in trusted indexes, and check the article for received/accepted dates or a peer-review note.
Finding Whether An Article Is Peer Reviewed
Start with the journal, not the article. If the journal runs peer review, most research papers inside it went through that route. A small share of content types in the same journal may skip review, like editorials or news. So you’ll confirm the venue first, then you’ll confirm the content type and the file you have in hand.
Quick Checks And Where To Verify
| Check | What To Look For | Where To Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Journal policy | Clear statement of peer review with the type used (single blind, double blind, or open) | Journal “About” or “Peer Review” page |
| Index signals | Listing in trusted directories that require review | DOAJ record; library catalogs; Ulrichsweb |
| Article front matter | Received/accepted dates or a peer review statement | PDF first page or article landing page |
| Content type | Original research or review article vs editorial, letter, or news | Article header and journal’s section policy |
| Editorial board | Named editors and affiliations | Journal masthead |
| Peer review history | Public reviews, decision letters, or badges | Linked “Peer Review” tab or appendix |
Step 1: Verify The Journal
Open the journal’s website and find the page that explains peer review. Many sites label it “Peer Review,” “Editorial Process,” or “Instructions for Authors.” You should see the method used, who reviews the work, and what happens after submission. If the site shows a line that each article is reviewed by independent experts, that’s a strong signal. A listing in a directory that vets journals for review policy adds weight, yet you still need to check the article you’re holding.
Where To Find The Policy
Look under About, Editorial Process, or Instructions for Authors on the journal website footer or header.
Step 2: Inspect The Article File
Peer-reviewed papers often carry dates such as “received,” “revised,” and “accepted.” You may also see a note like “This article has been peer reviewed.” In open peer review models, you might find links to referee reports, author replies, and decision letters. If the PDF shows only a posting date with no review signals and the site labels the piece as a “preprint” or “accepted manuscript,” treat it as not yet reviewed or not the final version.
Step 3: Cross-Check Trusted Databases
Use curated tools that label journals with a refereed flag or require review as part of inclusion. Library subscribers can search Ulrichsweb and look for the “refereed” icon on a journal record. Open directories such as the Directory of Open Access Journals list only titles that state a peer review process on the site and follow clear editorial standards. If you search PubMed, note that it aggregates records from several sources and can include preprints; the database record alone doesn’t prove review. Read the journal’s policy and the PDF before you tag an item as reviewed.
Step 4: Look At Editorial Policy Details
Strong journals describe the type of review, the number of reviewers, and the role of editors in the process. Many also publish turn-around times and disclose any special tracks that skip review, such as invited comments. If a journal guarantees acceptance, hides the process, or claims review times that look unreal, that’s a red flag.
Step 5: Evaluate Publisher Signals
Reputable publishers post contact details, a full masthead, and policies on ethics and corrections. Many link to Think. Check. Submit. They name industry bodies they belong to, and the names can be verified. A publisher page that lists no team, no address, or only web forms deserves extra scrutiny.
Ways To Check If A Paper Is Peer Reviewed
Different routes lead to the same answer. You can start from the article and work outward, or start from the journal and work inward. The list below gives clean paths that work even when you’re short on time or you’re outside a campus network.
Path A: Journal-First
Search the journal title in a library catalog or a journal directory. Confirm the peer review method on the journal site. Check the editorial board and contact details. Then open your article and look for research article labels and the date chain.
Path B: Article-First
Open the PDF. Scan the header for the section name and the date chain. Look for hyperlinks that say “peer review,” “review reports,” or “open reports.” Jump to the landing page and read the notes under the abstract. Follow the link to the journal’s policy page to confirm review type. Finally, cross-check the journal in a trusted directory.
Path C: Database-First
Run the journal title in Ulrichsweb if you have access through a library. The refereed marker on that record tells you the title conducts peer review. For open access titles, search DOAJ and read the record fields for review and editorial information. Then match the article’s section type against the journal’s own section policy to be sure your piece falls under reviewed content.
Peer Review Models And What To Expect
Peer review comes in several forms. The model shapes what you’ll see on the site and in the PDF. Knowing the model lets you read the signals faster.
Peer Review Models And Verification Tips
| Model | What You’ll See | How To Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Single blind | Reviewer names hidden; author names visible | Policy page states single blind; date chain on article |
| Double blind | Reviewer and author names hidden | Policy page states double blind; clear steps for anonymity |
| Open review | Public reports and decision letters linked | Links to reports on the article page; reviewer names may show |
| Registered Reports | Two stages; Stage 1 accepted before data collection | Label “Registered Report”; in-principle acceptance date |
| Post-publication | Comments or reviews arrive after posting | Badge or section that labels the process on the site |
Red Flags That Call For A Second Look
Some journals claim peer review yet give off signs that don’t align with common practice. Be careful with sites that publish in days, promise instant acceptance, or charge a fee before review. Watch for dead links on policy pages, fake editorial boards, or contact pages with no real address. If the journal says reviews are double blind but author names appear in the review files, treat that as a mismatch. When things don’t add up, step back to the article itself and rely on the date chain and the content type to reach a fair call.
Edge Cases You’ll Meet
Not all scholarly content is peer reviewed. Editorials, book reviews, news items, and letters often skip review even inside peer-reviewed journals. Conference proceedings vary by field and by event. Some use full external review, some use program committee checks, and some publish lightly screened abstracts. Preprints sit outside journal review. Many move into journals later, yet the preprint file is still the unreviewed version. When you cite, match your claim to the reviewed version where possible, and label a preprint clearly if that is the only source you can find.
Tools That Speed Up The Check
Library catalogs and subject databases sometimes label items as peer reviewed. Ulrichsweb adds a refereed icon to journal records and explains how that flag is assigned. DOAJ records state the peer review method and ask for a clear policy on the journal site. The Think. Check. Submit. checklist gives a neat way to judge a venue when you’re unsure. These tools don’t replace reading the policy and the PDF, yet they cut the time you spend on guesswork.
Myths That Waste Time
Some shortcuts sound handy yet mislead readers. Clear them out and your checks get faster.
- Myth: “If it’s in PubMed, it’s peer reviewed.” Fix: PubMed is a discovery service, not a stamp of review. Always match the record to the journal’s policy and the PDF.
- Myth: “Impact factor proves quality and review depth.” Fix: Impact metrics track citation patterns. They don’t describe the process behind a single article.
- Myth: “Open access titles skip review.” Fix: Many open access journals run rigorous review and publish reports. Read the policy and the article page.
- Myth: “Indexing in one big database settles the question.” Fix: Indexes help you find content. Peer review status still comes from the journal’s own policy and the article file.
Field Notes Across Disciplines
Practices differ by field, so signals vary a bit. In physics and math, preprint servers carry early drafts that may later move into journals; the preprint itself isn’t reviewed. In biomedicine, some journals post accepted manuscripts ahead of the final version; the posted file may show only a received and accepted date while the full layout arrives later. In computer science, conference papers can be the main reviewed venue; look for the program’s review notes and acceptance rates on the event site. In the humanities, essays and commentary in learned journals may be screened by editors instead of external referees, while research articles still follow peer review.
When Status Is Missing Or Mixed
Sometimes an article page shows little detail. You can still get a clean answer. First, open the PDF and scan the header and footer for dates and notes. Next, jump to the journal’s peer review policy page and save a copy. Then match the article’s section tag to the list of reviewed sections. If the page lists “research article” yet no dates appear, check for a landing-page tab that holds review files. If the site lists only a posting date and calls the file a preprint, treat it as not reviewed. If this still leaves doubt, email the editorial office, ask about the review status of that article, and keep the reply with your files.
Evidence You Can Save For Your Records
When you verify a source, store a short trail so you never need to redo the work. Save a PDF of the journal’s peer review policy page and write the access date in the filename. Keep a screenshot of the article header that shows the date chain or the peer review note. If the site links public reports, download the PDF bundle or save the links in a note. Record the Ulrichsweb or DOAJ record URL and the fields that mention review. If you wrote to the editorial office, store the email thread in the same folder. That tiny archive turns later audits into quick checks and keeps your citations clean.
A Short Workflow You Can Repeat
- Search the journal site for the peer review policy and note the model used.
- Check a trusted directory for a record of that title.
- Open the article PDF and look for the date chain and any peer review note.
- Confirm the content type aligns with reviewed sections in that journal.
- Save a screenshot or a note of the policy page for your files.
With practice you’ll move through these steps in minutes and feel confident about the status of each source you cite or grade.
Create a one-page handout and ask students to attach saved proofs to each citation they submit in assignments always.
For policy baselines, see the DOAJ criteria. When you need a venue check, use the Think. Check. Submit. journal checklist. If you search PubMed, read the NLM PubMed FAQ on peer review so you don’t misread an index label.