What is the importance of peer-review of scholarly journals to student researchers?

Answer 1

It is crucial. A peer-reviewed journal ensures that the articles contained within it are checked by experts in the field to make sure the information conveyed by each article is accurate and up-to-date, and to make sure the methods or theories employed by each author are appropriate and correctly applied.

In short, peer review makes sure poor quality or misleading research does not get published.

Edit:
"Peer review" differs from editorial review. Peer review means that the article has been read, critiqued, sent back for rewrite, and then given final approval by a group of recognized scholars in that particular field of study. Thjs is done without any of the reviewers knowing who the author of the article is, so that preferential or prejudicial treatment is made unlikely.

Answer 2

A journal that's published is written by the author is still an opinion, educated, hopefully,,,....but peer reviewed may mean reviewed by in house specialists of the publisher or some org, or other published authors, and of course an association of egg heads that know more than the other, or not, esp. if it's a topic not researched before. The big thing is the references at the end of the article that the reader can check. I think that is the big peer review. SEE what the others say.