Research Methods Y1 - Peer Review/Economy Flashcards
What is “Peer review”?
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.
What is the definition of “Economy”?
The state of a country or region in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services.
What are the main aims of peer review?
To allocate research funding: Independent peer evaluation also takes place to decide whether or not to award funding for a proposed research project. This may be co-ordinated by government-run funding organisations such as the Medical Research Council, who have a vested interest in establishing which research projects are most worthwhile.
To validate the quality and relevance of research: All elements of research are assessed for quality and accuracy; the formulation of hypotheses, the methodology chosen, the statistical tests used and the conclusions drawn.
To suggest amendments or improvements: Reviewers may suggest minor revisions of the work and thereby improve the report or, in extreme circumstances, they may conclude that the work is inappropriate for publication and should be withdrawn.
How is peer review important in publishing research?
Before a piece of research can become part of a journal, it must be subject to a process of peer review. This involves all aspects of the written investigation 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.
How does psychological research have implications for the economy in terms of attachment?
Psychological research has shown that both parents are equally capable of providing the emotional support necessary for healthy psychological development. With this understanding, many promote more flexible working arrangements within the family. It is now the norm in lots of households that couples share childcare responsibilities and working hours, whilst the other is sharing the home responsibilities. This means that modern parents are better equipped to maximise their income and contribute more effectively to the economy.
How can psychological research into mental health disorders help the economy?
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 mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Psychological research into the causes and treatments of mental illness therefore has an important role to play in supporting a healthy workforce.
How do treatments such as SSRIs and CBT benefit the economy?
Psychological treatments for depression and OCD (e.g., SSRIs and CBT) allow individuals to recover quickly and gain swift access to therapy. This means that, in many cases, sufferers are able to manage their condition effectively and return to work. Thus, the economic benefit of psychological research into such disorders is considerable.
Why might anonymity in peer review be a problem?
Evidence: It is usual practice that the ‘peer’ doing the reviewing remains anonymous throughout the process as this is likely to produce a more honest appraisal. However, a minority of reviewers may abuse their anonymity as a way of criticising rival researchers who they perceive as having crossed them in the past.
Explanation: This is made all the more likely by the fact that many researchers are in direct competition for limited research funding.
Link: For this reason, some journals favour a system of open reviewing whereby the names of the reviewer(s) are made public.
How might publication bias affect peer review?
Evidence: It is a natural tendency for editors of journals to want to publish significant ‘headline grabbing’ findings to increase the credibility and circulation of their publication.
Explanation: They also prefer to publish positive results. This could mean that research which does not meet the criteria is ignored.
Link: Ultimately, this creates a false impression of the current state of psychology if journal editors are being selective with what they publish.
How does peer review impact groundbreaking research?
Evidence: The peer review process may suppress opposition to mainstream theories, wishing to maintain the status quo within a particular scientific field. Reviewers tend to be especially critical of research that contradicts their own view and much more favourable to research that matches it.
Explanation: This is made more likely as the ‘peers’ chosen as reviewers are established scientists and experts in their particular field, and thus are more likely to favour research that matches their own.
Link: As a result, innovative research that challenges the established order is often slowed down.
