2. Process Of Peer Review

Question 1

How many peer reviewers are there usually ?

Answer 1

3 (between 1 and 3)

Question 2

Who are peer reviewers?

Answer 2

Experts in the field

Question 3

Why are peer reviewers anonymous?

Answer 3

So what they’ve said doesn’t alienate them/cause backlash

Question 4

List 4 things peer reviewers will consider

Answer 4

• competence of psychologist
• informed consent of p’s gained
• no deception
• opportunity to withdraw

Question 5

What are the 4 disadvantages of peer review we look at?

Answer 5

• institutional bias
• competition
• the ‘file-drawer’ problem
• gender bias

Question 6

Describe institutional bias (in regards to peer review)

Answer 6

Certain prestigious institutions may have their work scrutinised less as there is a positive bias about work from these institutions but work from less prestigious institution may be more unduly scrutinised

Question 7

Describe competition (in regards to peer review)

Answer 7

If there is no anonymity for the researchers, then experts who have conflicting research (in competition with each other’s research) might not approve research (to further their own work or reputation)

Question 8

Describe the ‘file-drawer’ problem (in regards to peer review)

Answer 8

If only statistically significant are published then findings that challenge existing research may be overlooked and not published

Question 9

Describe gender bias (in regards to peer review)

Answer 9

There may still be gender bias in the work produced by males vs females in terms of how much is published in prestigious journals

Question 10

What are the two advantages of peer review

Answer 10

• it allocates funding to worthy institutions. This means that high quality research centres are rewarded for research and given additional cash and resources
• it allows for scientific fraud to be identified before publication. This means that fraudulent research is less likely to exist in the public domain