Question

n 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. Peer review in a reputable journal is the key indicator that it’s an acceptable scientific reference (though you should still read and evaluate the paper’s evidence and relevance).