peer review and psychology and the economy

Question 1

what is the aim of science

Answer 1

the aim of science is to produce a body of knowledge through conducting research

In addition to conducting the research what matters is how this knowledge is communicated within the scientific community, and to the wider public

Question 2

how is findings in psychology publicised

Answer 2

in psychology, research findings are publicised through conferences, text books, but most often via academic journals

Question 3

what must happen before research is publicised

Answer 3

before a piece of research can become pat of a journal, it must be subjected to a process called peer review

Question 4

what does peer review involve

Answer 4

peer review involves all aspects of written investigated being scrutinised by a small group of usually two or three experts (“peers”) in the particular field

these experts should be objective and unknown to the author or researcher

Question 5

what are the main aims of peer review

Answer 5

1. to allocate research funding
2. to validate the quality of research
3. to sugget amendments or improvements

Question 6

why is it important to allocate research funding

Answer 6

independent peer evaluation takes place to decide whether or not to award funding for a proposed research project.

This may be coordinated by government run funding organisations such as the Medical Research Council, who have vested an in interest in establishing which research projects are most worth while

Question 7

how is peer review used to assess the quality and relevance or research

Answer 7

All elements of the research are assessed for quality and accuracy of:

• the formation of hypotheses
• the methodology chosen
• the statistical tests used and the conclusion drawn

Question 8

how is peer review used to suggest amendments or improvements

Answer 8

reviewers may suggest minor revisions of the work and thereby improve the report or, in extreme circumstances, they may conclude thee work is inappropriate for publication and should be withdrawn

Question 9

what are the implications of psychology research for the economy

Answer 9

one of the wider concerns for psychology as well as science in general is whet implications the research has for the economy

By implications we mean how down what we learn from the findings of psychological research influence, affect, benefit or devalue our economic prosperity

Question 10

what are the implications for the study into attachment / how did it benefit society and the economy

Answer 10

Bowlby first asserted that a child can only ever form a secure and lasting monotropic bond with its mother

Therefore, at the time Bowlby was writing childcare was seen as a mother’s responsibility, and hers alone whilst the father was free to carry out his “natural” role as to provide for the family

However, in recent research, this notion has been questioned pointing to the importance of the child forming multiple attachments, most notable of which is that of the father

There has been research to show that both parents are equally capable of providing the emotional support necessary for healthy psychological development, and this understanding may promote more flexible working arrangements within the family

Because of this research, it is the norm in most households that the mother is the higher earner and so works longer hours whilst many couples share childcare responsibilities across the working week.

This means that modern families are more equipped to maximise their income and contribute more effectively to their income and contribute more effectively to the economy

Question 11

what are the implications for studies/ development into treatment for mental health disorders

• how did it benefit society/ the economy

Answer 11

absence from work costs the economy an estimated £15 billion a year

A recent government report revealed that a third of all absences are caused by mild to moderate metal health disorders such as depression, anxiety and stress

Therefore, psychological research into the causes and treatments of mental illnesses therefore has an important role to in supporting a healthy workforce

e.g. many psychotherapeutic drugs such as SSRI for depression and OCD
Antianxiety drugs are used for stress conditions and referrals can also be made by GPs for psychotherapies such as systematic desensitsation

This means that in many cases, sufferers are able too manage their conditions effectively and return to work.

Thus, the economic benefit of psychological research into disorders such as depression is considerable