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Clinical Psychology Capstone: Literature Review & Peer Review

Literature Review

What are the differences between literature reviews?

  • Literature Review - A general summary, or overview of the topic that is typically qualitative and subjective
  • Systematic Review - A type of literature review that answers a focused clinical question
  • Meta-Analysis - A type of systematic review using statistical methods to combine data from systematic reviews

What is the best way to find literature reviews?

  • PsycINFO - A psychology database with the capacity to limit by Methodology

How do I know a journal is peer reviewed?

  • If searching in a database (eg: Social Work Abstracts,GenderWatch), select Peer Review from the Refine/Limit Results options.
  • Check the journal's website:  look for the 'about' or 'about this journal' section.
  • Check Ulrich's Periodicals Directory; Search by journal name and look for the little black referee's jersey icon.
  • Ask us: Call, text, email, or chat

What does Peer Review mean anyway?

When you submit an article to a journal, someone has to determine if it's worth printing.  Peer review was developed as a way to screen articles and determine the quality of your article. 

At a peer reviewed journal, the editor sends your article out to several reviewers (usually three) who are in the same field, or 'peers'.  Generally, your name will be taken off of the article so personalities don't interfer with the process.  The reviewers read through your article looking to see if:  the topic is unique or novel, if the data or research is sound, and if it's well written.  The reviewers can: reject the article; accept it with revisions; accept it as is.  

Benefits of peer review is that multiple people decide vs just the editor and the review process weeds out poorly written or researched articles.

Drawbacks of peer review is that it's only as good as the reviewers so poorly written or researched articles have gotten published.  Also, peer review was established as a way to check quality not catch fraud.

For more on peer review (I know that someone is interested...), check out Nature Peer Review Debate