Research Methods - The Role of Peer Review in the Scientific Process

Question 1

What is a peer review?

Answer 1

A process that takes place before a study is published to check the quality and validity of the research

Question 2

What type of report is the write of up of research?

Answer 2

A scientific report

Question 3

Why would a researcher hope to have their research published?

Answer 3

In order for people to be able to read about it

Question 4

Will all pieces of research make it to publication?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

What two things does a peer review ensure?

Answer 5

Ensures quality and relevance of research
Ensures accuracy of findings

Question 6

What does peer review check for? (3)

Answer 6

Fabrication
Falsification
Plagiarism

Question 7

Fabrication

Answer 7

Made up data

Question 8

Falsification

Answer 8

Altered data

Question 9

Plagiarism

Answer 9

Copied data

Question 10

Why is peer review necessary?

Answer 10

It’s necessary for a piece of research to become part of a journal

Question 11

What does peer review involve?

Answer 11

Involves all aspects of the written investigation being scrutinised by a small group of experts in a particular field

Question 12

2 things that experts must be for peer review

Answer 12

Objective (free from bias)
Unknown to author of research

Question 13

Who makes the final decision of whether to accept or reject the research report based on the reviewers’ comments?

Answer 13

The editor of the journal

Question 14

5 evaluative points of peer review

Answer 14

Anonymity
Publication bias
Finding an expert
Preserving the status quo
Cannot deal with already published research

Question 15

Why does the person completing the review remain anonymous?

Answer 15

To produce more honest appraisal

Question 16

What may anonymity in peer review allow researcher the opportunity to do?

Answer 16

To excessively criticise rivals

Question 17

What do editors have a natural tendency for? (Publication bias) (2)

Answer 17

For headline grabbing findings
For positive findings

Question 18

Risk of using non-expert peer to review to research

Answer 18

May bring about risk of poor quality research being passed because the reviewer doesn’t really understand it

Question 19

Reserving the status quo

Answer 19

Reviewer has preference for research that goes with existing theory rather than dissenting work (goes along with social norms)

Question 20

What can’t peer review deal with already published research?

Answer 20

Because once published, it remains in the public view even if the information is proved wrong