In the academic world, peer-reviewed (or 'refereed' or 'scholarly') journals are preferable to popular magazines for finding information. Peer reviewed journal articles have been examined by people with expertise in the article's field of study, before they are published. Peer reviewed publications (often entitled Journal, Review or Research) are produced specifically for academics, scholars and professionals, unlike popular magazines found in newsagents and supermarkets.
Peer-reviewed journals can be identified by their editorial statements or instructions to authors (usually in the first few pages of the journal, or at the end). Some online databases also have the ability to limit your search results, to indicate if an article is from a "peer-reviewed" or "refereed" journal. Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory allows you to check the title of a journal to see if it is peer-reviewed - search the journal title online in Ulrichs Periodicals.
