Refereed, or peer-reviewed, articles are reviewed by people who are experts in the specific subject the articles are written on. These anonymous reviewers determine if the material submitted for publication is accurate and adds significant knowledge to the area of study that already exists. Refereed (or peer-reviewed) materials are important to the research and the literature of most academic fields; the status of "peer review" assures readers that the information conveyed is reliable, timely, and credible.
Note:
The term "scholarly literature" describes refereed (or peer-reviewed) materials. It can also be applied to academic books, white papers, conference presentations, and more publication types that have not been peer-reviewed. While non-refereed materials may not be scrutinized as intensely before publication as refereed materials are, they can still be considered scholarly and academic. Pay attention to the publisher to determine if the resource is academic.