How do I know if a source is peer-reviewed in JSTOR?
Answer
You may have noticed that a "Peer-reviewed" filter is not available when using the JSTOR database. As JSTOR states, this is because "...all the information in JSTOR is held to a scholarly standard, [yet] not all publications technically qualify as peer-reviewed." This means:
- The majority of articles you find in JSTOR come from peer-reviewed publications
- But, the JSTOR archives include primary source materials that pre-date the current peer-review process
- Examples of primary source materials you may find come from the Ireland Collection and the 19th Century British Pamphlet Collection
- Technically, not all materials are peer-reviewed, but JSTOR considers their collection of peer-reviewed publications and primary sources as "scholarly"
JSTOR's support page on this topic can help better understand what peer-review means and the reasoning behind why we don't see a "peer-review" filter in their database.
Helpful JSTOR filters
JSTOR does provide other filters to help you narrow your search results by "Item Type" and "Publication Date."
Contact the library
Librarians are here to help you determine if your sources meet a "scholarly" or "peer-review" standard for your research. We provide research assistance in-person during library open hours, through our online chat in the evenings, and through research appointments. No question is too small or too broad, and we're here to help!