Peer review guidelines

Educational content on the OSU Extension website shows an insignia when the content is peer-reviewed. This means the publication or article has been reviewed by qualified, independent subject-matter experts.

Peer review applies to OSU Extension Catalog publications, articles and some multimedia. One-time or limited-use resources such as newsletters, meeting handouts and public relations materials are not peer reviewed.

The majority of authors on peer-reviewed Extension content are Extension faculty from Oregon State University, with exception of the Pacific Northwest publications, which are produced cooperatively by the three land-grant universities (Oregon State University, Washington State University, University of Idaho).

OSU Extension materials fall under two different levels of peer review, indicated by color.

Peer reviewed orange ribbon

Orange level

Peer reviewed gray ribbon

Gray level

Orange level

The purpose of peer review at this level is to bring the same intellectual rigor to Extension content as is expected of peer-reviewed journal articles. Peer-reviewed Extension content typically focuses on practical applications of research or other science- and evidence-based recommendations and practices. The commitment by authors, reviewers and administrators to the rigorous and qualified review of educational resources is no less than that brought to academic journal articles.

OSU Extension Catalog publications

Our Extension Catalog publications are reviewed by at least two qualified, independent subject-matter experts. Reviewers are fluent in the subject of the content and familiar with the characteristics of the intended audience. Peer reviewers are asked to review the material and include specific, objective suggestions to help authors improve the content. Authors have the responsibility to incorporate or reject suggestions and to revise the content to the satisfaction of the reviewers and their Extension program leader.

Peer reviews are managed by the Extension program leaders or people they designate, who confirm completion in writing to Extension Communications before publishing. If content receives a substantial (over 30%) change in a future revision, another peer review occurs unless a written confirmation from the Extension program leader states it is not needed.

Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Extension and Family and Community Health Extension materials must undergo a blind review (called “referee-review”) for never-before-published materials. They include at least three peer reviewers from any state in the country. The OSU College of Agricultural Sciences will add other reviewers as necessary, and reviewers for Family and Community Health Extension must be external to OSU.

Pacific Northwest Extension publications

Pacific Northwest Extension publications are peer reviewed by qualified, independent subject-matter experts in each state (Oregon, Washington and Idaho). Extension Communications works with the other states to manage the peer review process. For pieces that are revised annually, the peer review process is managed by the author with known reviewers (no blind review).

Oregon Sea Grant Catalog publications

Oregon Sea Grant Catalog publications are typically first published as articles through peer-reviewed journals, and then access to a document is provided either by checking out the article via the National Sea Grant Library, or through an Open Access direct link or downloadable PDF. Oregon Sea Grant only posts Open Access articles. For other content, Oregon Sea Grant publishes Extension technical documents for which they manage the peer review and confirm the incorporation of revisions.

Gray level

OSU Extension Service educational articles that bear this insignia have been reviewed by at least one other person with recognized subject-matter expertise. The authors document the reviewers’ names for internal purposes, and mark that it has been peer reviewed, which shows the insignia when the articles is published on the website.

Peer review of this type is strongly recommended to catch any potential inaccuracies, clarify writing and to receive another perspective. In some areas it is not required for website articles, so articles not peer reviewed do not bear the insignia.

Food Hero recipes

Food Hero tested recipes follow their multi-category recipe criteria, and include a number of recipes which have been rated “kid approved” (>10,000 surveys). Quantity Recipes have been analyzed to meet USDA meal pattern requirements for schools and child centers. Learn more about Food Hero's research and evaluation.

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