Evidence-based research is serious scholarship that must pass rigorous screening by subject experts before getting published. This process is called PEER REVIEW.
Virtually ALL evidence-based research articles that get published have been peer-reviewed and appear in what are termed peer-reviewed journals. PEER-REVIEWED journals are sometimes referred to as being REFEREED or JURIED.
CONCEPT 1: EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH
An evidence-based research article is one where the author or authors, in a formal prescribed manner, share findings from original research that they, themselves, have conducted using standard, recognized quantitative or qualitative methods. (For an explanation of quantitative vs. qualitative research methods, watch the video on the home page, accessible by clicking the Home tab above.)
CONCEPT 2: ORIGINAL RESEARCH / PRIMARY SOURCES
Original research is research that is NOT based on a summary, review or synthesis of earlier research on the same topic in the same field. Instead, original research attempts to unearth and present NEW findings to produce NEW KNOWLEDGE in a given field of study. An evidence-based/original research article is, in most cases, considered to be a primary source. (For a discussion of PRIMARY, SECONDARY and TERTIARY sources, click HERE.)
CONCEPT 3: SCHOLARLY JOURNALS: What They Do and Why
Evidence-based research appears in scholarly journals, which are, in most cases, PEER-REVIEWED. (See side panel in the left margin.) These journals exist to present research articles that enhance or increase knowledge in a given field of study, in this case, the field of education.
Above: a typical peer-reviewed education journal.
Below: a typical peer-reviewed article's first page.