Peer-reviewed articles refer to sources that are reviewed by a panel of authorities and are thus more reliable than sources that have not been peer-reviewed. Research articles in peer-reviewed journals [primary literature] and chapters in edited textbooks [tertiary literature] are some examples of peer-reviewed sources. Peer-reviewed sources are generally more robust since they have undergone a degree of quality control before publishing. Peer-reviewed articles can be further broken down into the three types of literature: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Peer-reviewed primary literature is a piece of original work where researchers are directly involved with the collecting processing and analysis of data to produce novel conclusions. Examples can include journal articles and conference papers.
Peer-reviewed secondary literature comments on primary literature. It places importance on the synthesis evaluation and rating of primary literature within a body of evidence. Examples can include literature reviews and systematic reviews.
Peer-reviewed tertiary literature is not used as evidence. They are good background reading and good for generating ideas but do not have any involvement with the original work (neither collect nor synthesize data). Examples can include textbooks, newspaper articles, and encyclopedias.
Interesting to note: Meta-analysis is a combination of primary and secondary literature. This is because it compiles original data from other studies (secondary) but also exhibits original analysis and conclusions (primary).
Let’s take the example of soil acidification to explain the differences between peer-reviewed primary, secondary and tertiary literature.
This peer-reviewed primary article on soil acidification in a European deciduous forest contains a materials and methods section which is a good indication that data was collected, processed, and analyzed directly by the researchers.
As an example of secondary peer-reviewed literature let’s look at a literature review on soil acidification and biochar. This paper is published in a peer-reviewed journal but contains no original research. Rather, the paper is a review that is synthesizing all the primary literature on biochar in an attempt to establish the best management strategies available at the present moment.
This textbook section on soil acidification is an example of peer-reviewed tertiary literature. The information listed in section 3.5.1. (page 456) is not original research or a synthesis of primary literature. The information presented serves as background information on soil acidification in general.
References:
Baeten, L., Bauwens, B., De Schrijver, A., De Keersmaeker, L., Van Calster, H., Vandekerkhove, K., Verheyen, K. (2009). Herb Layer Changes (1954-2000) Related to the Conversion of Coppice-With-Standards Forest and Soil Acidification. Applied Vegetation Science, 12(2), 187-197. Retrieved February 19, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27735059
Brown, T., & Williams, B. (2015). Evidence-based education in the health professions: promoting best practice in the learning and teaching of students. London: Radcliffe Publishing, 58-59.
Schulze, E.-D., Beck, E., & Müller-Hohenstein Klaus. (2005). Soil Acidification and Forest Damage. In Plant Ecology (pp. 456–457). Berlin: Springer.
Shi, R.-Y., Li, J.-Y., Ni, N., & Xu, R.-K. (2019). Understanding the biochars role in ameliorating soil acidity. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 18(7), 1508–1517. doi: 10.1016/s2095-3119(18)62148-3
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 