Refereed

Having been assessed or reviewed by a group of experts (referees) in a particular field, typically to ensure the quality, validity, and originality of work, especially in academic or professional contexts. The process involves an impartial evaluation of the subject matter to determine if it meets the standards of the field before publication or presentation. This peer-review system is common for scholarly journals, grant proposals, and conference presentations, ensuring a level of quality control and credibility. A refereed article generally suggests a higher standard of quality and expertise when compared to non-refereed material.

Refereed meaning with examples

• The research paper, after undergoing a rigorous refereed process, was accepted for publication in the prestigious academic journal. The referees scrutinized the methodology, results, and conclusions, making suggestions for improvement before granting their approval. This peer review ensured the study’s rigor and the reliability of its findings, making it a credible addition to scientific knowledge.
• Before submitting the grant proposal, the team chose to consult with a group of peers, ensuring the proposal was refereed. They requested feedback from experts in related fields to get constructive feedback, and improve the strength of the case for funding. Their advice, considering their knowledge of what is approved, improved the chances of success and strengthened the quality of the proposal overall.
• The professor insisted that her graduate students submit their thesis chapters for peer review, making sure each was refereed by faculty within their department. This preparation was invaluable, and it allowed students to get multiple perspectives on their work, to improve the quality of their research, and to become better prepared to write in the future.
• Conference organizers demand that all presentations are refereed, in order to ensure a high standard of scholarship. This selection is performed to review abstracts of possible papers for presentation at the event, where the selection committee of experts determine which research papers fit the topic and standard that has been set.