View this short video from NCSU libraries that explains the peer review process.
Because so much of the information you find is downloaded from the Internet, it is often difficult to figure out if the article you printed or downloaded is a peer reviewed, scholarly article, and therefore suitable for academic work. Here are some quick ways you can figure out if your article is scholarly:
A. The author is a scholar. Look for a byline or a blurb that identifies the college or university where the author teaches. If no information is given, Google the author to find out.
B. There are extensive footnotes, showing the author's familiarity with and reliance on scholarship in the field.
C. The article is addressed to a knowledgeable audience, rather than to the general public.
Popular, non-peer-reviewed articles are ones that do not undergo academic scrutiny; these kinds of articles are generally found in news magazines like Time and National Geographic.