Question

In 1998, paleoanthropologist Rick Potts published an article in The Yearbook of Physical Anthropology, a peer-reviewed journal. The article was titled “Environmental Hypotheses of Hominin Evolution.” Isabel wonders if she can cite this article as a valid scientific reference. Which statement below best answers her question?
The article is not valid because it was not published this year.
The article is not valid because it contains no supporting evidence.
The article is valid because it was reviewed by other scientists.
The article is valid because Potts is a renowned paleoanthropologist.

Answer 1

The article is valid because it was reviewed by other scientists.

Explanation: publication in a peer‑reviewed journal means other experts evaluated the work before publication, which is the key criterion for it being an acceptable scientific reference. (That said, you should still assess the article’s methods, evidence, and current relevance — age or the author’s reputation alone don’t determine validity.)