data handling and analysis

Question 1

why is data published

Answer 1

share new research with others who may wish to expand or develop it to move psychology into new areas

allow for findings to be turned into practical applications for wider study

validate new research by replicating the study to check reliability of the method

support or refute existing theories and ideas

Question 2

peer review

Answer 2

sometimes done anonymously, experts in the field are sent copies of a research report by journal editors who will then consider the research in terms of its validity, significance and originality

Question 3

purpose of peer review

Answer 3

evaluate methodology and design of a study and make recommendations as to the quality and relevance of research e.g. checking design is appropriate and whether results have been analysed correctly

suggest which reports should be published, revised before publication or rejected to prevent incorrect or misleading reports from being published

acts as a quality control by making sure only the highest quality research is put into the public domain so it is taken more seriously

Question 4

strength of peer review

Answer 4

protects reputation of psychology so that only high-quality research is published

important as it minimises the risk that inaccurate, or fraudulent research is published meaning credibility of psychology remains

Question 5

limit of peer review

Answer 5

can be difficult to find a reviewer who is both an expert in the field and who doesn’t know the author of the study

this is because there may be a limited number of people who can properly review the research without being biased against the study, assuming they may use peer review to want to harm a rivals work in favour of their own, or truly understand the work

this means the review may not be performed properly which could lead to good work not being published