Peer Review And The Economy Flashcards
What is peer review?
The process through which all aspects of psychological research is scrutinised by a small group of 2 or 3 experts in a particular field in order to determine if the research is valid.
What 2 aspects are important in peer review?
It should be objective and the peer review group should be unknown to the researcher
What are the main aims of peer review?
To decide how to allocate research funding
Validate the quakity and relevance of research
Suggest amendments or improvements
Asses the quality and accuracy of the experiment methodology (eg the formulation of the hypothesis, methodology and statistical test
Withdrawing work that isn’t appropriate
What are the negative evaluations of peer review?
Anonymity
Publication Bias
Burying ground breaking research
Explain the negative evaluation of peer review: Anonymity
A peer review should maintain anonymous to maintain an honest appraisal
But, some researchers may use this to criticise rivals research (because of personal biases) or because grant money can be very competitive
To stop this some journals make the names of the reviewers public
Explain the negative evaluation of peer review: Publication Bias
There is a tendency for editors to publish “headline grabbing” findings (to increase their credibility and circulation of their publication
This may crease misleading impressions of the state of psychological research
The “File drawer problem” is especially seen in meta analysis where non significant or negative results are not published
Explain the negative evaluation of peer review: Burying Ground Breaking Research
Researchers tend to be especially critical of research that contradicts their own work and less critical of work that supports their own work
Reviewers tend to be established (maybe older) scientists that may resit change and therefore may be more likely to criticise newer groundbreaking research - this could limit the development of psychology
Give an example of how first year content effects the economy?
Attachment - shows how both parents are important which has lead to more women working / father’s staying at home (more diverse workplace which can lead to better ideas)
What stats do you need to know?
Absences at work cost the economy an estimated £15 Billion per year - the Telegraph (in 2014) reported that 1/3 of this could be due to depression and stress
How does psychological research help the economy (direct way)?
The development/creation of CBT and SSRI’s and other anti anxiety drugs have allowed people with mild mental heath disorders to return to work sooner
What did Zeisler et al do?
He studies workers at a factory who’s shift patterns appeared to cause sleep and health problems
What did Zeisler suggest?
He recommended rotating shifts every 21 days and changing shifts forwards in time
The change indicated increased productivity and job satisfaction
Who did research in the psychology’s role in the economy?
Zeisler
The Telegraoh
