Peer Review and Economy

Question 1

What is peer review?

Answer 1

The assessment of scientific work by others who are specialists in the same field, to ensure that any research intended for publication is of high quality

Question 2

Main aims of peer review

Answer 2

1) Allocate research funding
2) Validate the quality and relevance of research
3) Suggest amendments or improvements

Question 3

Evaluation of peer review

Answer 3

• Anonymity (eg. Reviewers remain anonymous)
• Publication bias (eg. Preference to publish positive results, creating a false impression of the current state of psychology)
• Burying groundbreaking research (eg. May suppress opposition to mainstream theories, falsely maintaining status, slowing down rate of change)

Question 4

Implications of psychological research for the economy

Answer 4

• Development of treatments for mental disorders (eg. Drugs allowing people to effectively return to work, contributing to the economy)
• Attachment research into the role of the father (modern parents now better equipped to maximise income)