Peer Review

Question 1

What is peer review

Answer 1

Scientific quality of the research is judged prior to its detailsbeing published as an article in a scientific journal

Question 2

Reasons for using peer review and its importance

Answer 2

• important research must be valid and accurate
• flawed and fraudulent work is detected and results can be ignored = if this work was published it would discredit the field of scientific research
• for public interest = finding published often reported in media and evidence often influences mainstream thinking and government policy’s

Question 3

Peer review process

Answer 3

1. Author writes article and submitted to journal
2. Editor sends copy to a peer (expert in the field) for checking
3. Peer checks many aspects
4. Paper accepted and published

Question 4

Strengths of peer review

Answer 4

• promotes and maintains high standards in reaserch
• prevents scientific fraud

Question 5

Limitations of peer review

Answer 5

• if anonymity is not maintained experts with a conflict of interest might not approve research to further their own reputations or career
• publication bias = often only stats significantly findings are published = finding which challenge existing understanding may be overlooked as they are not published