Final answer:
Peer-reviewed articles have been evaluated by experts in the field, providing feedback that ensures the research is credible and of a high quality before publication. This process is crucial in maintaining the integrity of academic work, especially in medicine.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an article has been peer-reviewed, it means the content has undergone a rigorous evaluation by several other scientists with expertise in the subject matter. These peer reviewers, usually working anonymously, assess the study's rationale, methodology, ethical considerations, and statistical analyses.
They also ensure that conclusions are logically derived from the research findings. The feedback provided through this process helps improve the quality of the article before it is published, serving as a form of quality control and ensuring the credibility of the research within the scientific community.
Notably, peer review is not infallible and can be susceptible to issues such as bias or fraud, but it is widely recognized as a critical mechanism for preserving the integrity of academic scholarship, particularly in disciplines like medicine, where the implications of research can be very significant.
Peer-reviewed articles are considered more trustworthy because they have been vetted by experts, and only those studies deemed valuable in advancing the field are typically published after potentially undergoing revisions.