Peer review

Question 1

What is peer review ?

Answer 1

• before research is published, it has to be peer reviewed
• Small group of experts scrutinise the report or research
• Experts should be objective and unknown to the author

Question 2

What is the purpose of peer review ?

Answer 2

• ensure accuracy of research
• Allocates funding for future research
• Ensures quality and relevance of research (prevents irrelevant and fraudulent findings)

Question 3

What is the process of peer review ?

Answer 3

• Work is checked by psychologists in the field before deciding whether work can be published
• Can be anonymous
• Recommended changes, recommended publishing or they reject it
• Checks for validity, originality and significance
• editor of journal makes the final decision

Question 4

What are the limitations of peer review ?

Answer 4

Anonymity:
This leads to a more honest appraisal but some reviewers use anonymity to criticise rival researchers
Some journal use an open system to prevent this

Publication bias:
Work that finds significant results are more likely yo get published

Burying ground-breaking research
Review process suppresses opposition to mainstream theories
Rate of change slowed due to maintaining the status-quo