Peer review

Question 1

what are the 3 aims of peer review?

Answer 1

-allocate research FUNDING.

-validate QUALITY and RELEVANCE of research

-suggest AMMENDMENTS and improvements

Question 2

aim 1: how does peer review allocate research funding?

Answer 2

it decides whether to award funding for projects that are co-ordinated by the government

only for research proposals

Question 3

aim 2: how does peer review validate quality and relevance of research?

Answer 3

all the elements of the research are ASSESSED for quality and accuracy.

Question 4

aim 3: how does peer review suggest amendments and improvements

Answer 4

reviewers may suggest MINOR revisions of the work and IMPROVE the report.

EXTREME circumstances may also decide that the research is INAPPROPRIATE for publication and should be WITHDRAWN.

Question 5

who are the peers in a peer review?

Answer 5

small group of usually 2-3 experts / SPECIALISTS that are in the same field.

Question 6

why should peer review be anonymous?

Answer 6

in order to gain HONEST appraisal, however this can lead to peers criticising rival researchers.

therefore some favour an open system of reviewing, where the names are public.

Question 7

why is publication bias an issue in peer review?

Answer 7

journal editors PUBLISH headlines to increase ATTENTION and credibility

some prefer to publish POSITIVE results, meaning negative research is DISREGARDED.

creates FALSE impressions of the current state of psychology.

Question 8

how does peer review lead to burying ground breaking research?

Answer 8

-peer review may SUPRESS OPPOSITION to mainstream theories.

-reviewers are CRITICAL of research that OPPOSE their own

-may SLOW down the rate of CHANGE within a particular scientific discipline.