research methods- peer review

Question 1

what is a peer review?

Answer 1

-before publication, all aspects of investigation are scrutinised by experts (peers) in the field
-these experts should be objective and unknown to the researcher

Question 2

what are the aims of the peer review?

Answer 2

-allocate research funding
-validation of the quality and relevance of research
-improvements and amendments are suggested

Question 3

evaluation of the peer review

Answer 3

+protects quality of published research
-anonymity may be used to criticise rival research
-publication bias
-ground-breaking research may be buried

Question 4

ao3 of peer review: protects quality of published research

Answer 4

-minimises possibility of fraudulent research ad means published research is of the highest quality
-preserves the reputation of psych as a science and increases the credibility and status of the subject

Question 5

ao3 of peer review: anonymity may be used to criticise rival research

Answer 5

-minority of reviewers may use their anonymous status to criticise rival researchers
-often there’s competition for limited research so this may be an issue

Question 6

ao3 of peer review: publication bias

Answer 6

-tendency for editors of journals to want to publish ‘headline-grabbing’ findings
-means research that doesn’t meet this criterion is ignored (file drawer problem)

Question 7

ao3 of peer review: ground-breaking research may be buried

Answer 7

-reviewers may be much more critical of research that contradicts their own view
-peer review may slow down the rate of changes within scientific discipline