L11: Peer Review

Question 1

What is Peer Review?

Answer 1

• Research is submitted to a psychology panel for peer review to be assessed before research is conducted
• When research ha seen conducted, and the report has been written, it is published in a scientific journal, but before this, it must be peer reviewed again

Question 2

What happens during peer review?

Answer 2

• Psychologists conducted g an independent scrutiny of a report
• These psychologists work in a similar field to the report
• Considered in terms of validity, significance and originality. Methods and designs are assessed
• Reviewers can accept the manuscript as it is or with revisions, it can be rejected without possibility of resubmission.
• Ultimately, the editor of the journal decides to accept/reject the report

Question 3

What is the purpose of peer review?

Answer 3

• To ensure quality and relevance of research
• To ensure accuracy of findings and to evaluate proposed designs
• Prevents dissemination of irrelevant findings, unwarranted claims, unacceptable interpretations, personal views and deliberate fraud.

Question 4

Evaluation of peer review (+)

Answer 4

+ Independent scrutiny increases the probability of errors being identified as researchers are less objective about their own work
+ Double blind procedure used, so researcher and peer reviewer are kept anonymous
- Peer Review has another psychologist in the field who has very good knowledge and judgement

Question 5

Evaluation of peer review (-)

Answer 5

• Sometimes there is not an appropriate expert so poor research may be positively reviewed as the researcher did not understand it.
• Journals prefer positive results, this can cause a bias in published research leading to a misinterpretation of facts. (e.g research that shows a difference in gender is more likely to be published than research that says there isn’t a difference.
• Can be unfair as specialists have connections so favouritism can occur