Peer review

Question 1

What is a peer review?

Answer 1

• The practice of using independent experts to assess the quality and validity of scientific research and academic
• work is held up and scrutinised and any work that is flawed is detected and the results of that research is ignored

Question 2

The scientific process

Answer 2

science is a process which enables humankind to get closer to understand how the world functions
- many elements of this process have evolved over the centuries to ensure we can be relied on to build bridges, treat disease
- one part of this process is peer review

Question 3

Peer review purposes

Answer 3

Allocation of research funding - research is paid for by various government and charitable bodies e.g the budget for science research in the UK for 2016 was £5.8 billion and the organisations spending this have to spend it responsibility so public bodies require reviews in order for them to decide what research is worthwhile

Publication of research in academic journals and books - scientific or academic journals provide scientists with the opportunity to share results of their research
- prior to peer review research was simply published so incorrect or faulty data could not be corrected

Assessing the research - all university science departments are expected to conduct research and this is assessed in terms of quality
- future funding depends on ratings

Question 4

Evaluation of peer review

Answer 4

Finding an expert - isnt always possible to find an appropriate expert — means that poor research may be passed because they did not really understand it

Anonymity - practised so reviewers can be objective and honest, however it can have the opposite effect if reviewers use this to settle old scores or bury rival research

Publication bias - journals like to publish positive results because editors want research that has important implications in order to increase the standing of their journal