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What does "peer-reviewed" mean?

A "peer-reviewed" source has been read and evaluated by a panel of experts in the discipline before being published. Research articles that are published in academic journals typically undergo this peer review process and are therefore considered highly authoritative, reliable sources for much of the textual research you will do while at Rollins.  

How do I know if the sources I'm finding are peer-reviewed?

Many databases have tags and search filters to help you know if the sources you're finding are peer-reviewed. For instance, when you conduct an R-search on the Olin Library website, peer-reviewed results will be visually tagged with a purple icon and "PEER REVIEWED" beneath the publication details. You can also limit your search results to return only peer-reviewed articles. On R-Search, you can do this by selecting "Peer-reviewed Journals" under "Availability" in the left-hand filter menu:

If you are working with a source that you did not find from a library database, you may need to look up the journal in which the article was published to determine whether it is peer-reviewed. The journal's website will typically indicate this information on their homepage or in an "About Us" section. 

Keep in mind that just because something is published in an academic journal, that does not automatically mean it was peer-reviewed. Some journals publish other kinds of articles that are not research-based and are not peer-reviewed, such as book reviews, editorials, or opinion articles. If the source you are using presents some kind of research, was published in an academic journal, and includes references to other sources, it is most likely a peer-reviewed article. 

What is a "scholarly" source? 

The terms "scholarly" and "peer-reviewed" often appear together and are sometimes used interchangeably. However, "scholarly" tends to be a broader term that includes peer-reviewed journal articles as well as other types of academic texts such as edited collections, monographs, doctoral and masters' theses, and some kinds of reports. 

Different disciplines, and even different professors, may vary in what they mean by "scholarly" sources. So, when in doubt, ask your professor, meet or chat with a librarian, or ask a peer tutor!