Peer Review

Question 1

What is a peer review?

Answer 1

The process of subjecting scientific research papers to independent scrutiny by other psychologists working in a similar field who consider the research in terms of its validity, significance and originality

Question 2

When is a peer review done?

Answer 2

Before the research is published

Question 3

What are five reasons why peer reviews are important?

Answer 3

It’s difficult for the researchers to find all their mistakes, it prevents the spread of irrelevant findings, the research can be judged in a wider context, the research is taken seriously and to prevent the damage of accepting poor scientific work

Question 4

What is the peer review process?

Answer 4

Several expert reviewers are sent copies of the research by a journal editor. They read the manuscript and assess it carefully highlighting areas for improvement. They send it back with comments and changes that need to be made. They also recommend whether the research should be published or not

Question 5

What are the four options for reviewers to recommends?

Answer 5

Accept the work unconditionally, accept it as long as the researcher improves it in certain ways, reject it but suggest revision and resubmission, reject it outright

Question 6

What is a single blind review?

Answer 6

The names of the reviewers not being revealed to the researcher

Question 7

What is a benefit of a single blind review?

Answer 7

It allows for an unbiased review

Question 8

What is a double blind review?

Answer 8

Both the reviewer and the researcher are anonymous

Question 9

What is an open review?

Answer 9

The researcher and reviewer are known to each other

Question 10

What are four problems with peer reviews?

Answer 10

It may be biased, file draw phenomenon (favouring positive results over negative ones), preserving the status quo (if it doesn’t agree with previous work it may be rejected) and values in science