RM- Peer review

Question 1

What is peer review?

Answer 1

Peer review is a process that takes place before a study is published to ensure that the research is of a high quality, contributes to the field of research and is accurately presented.

Question 2

What happens during peer review?

Answer 2

1) A psychologist completes a piece of research/article and then will send their work to a another psychologist(s) working in a similar field (who are usually experts) so that the work can be independently scrutinized and considered for publishing, (but only if the work is of a high standard and quality, high in validity, significant and original).
2) If the work is of a good quality then it can be published in a psychological journal.

Question 3

What is the double blind peer review process?

Answer 3

This is where the established psychologist(s) carrying out the peer review are anonymous – so that the psychologist who wrote the research does not know who will peer review their work, and also the peer reviewer will not know whose research they are analyzing.

Question 4

What are the advantages of peer review?

Answer 4

1) Peer review promotes and maintains high standards in research, which has implications for society and funding allocation so that it is assigned to high quality research.
2) Helps to prevent scientific fraud, as submitted work is scrutinised.
3) It promotes the scientific process through the development of accurate knowledge and contributes new knowledge to the field.

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of peer review?

Answer 5

1) If anonymity is not maintained experts with a conflict of interest might not approve research to further their own reputation or career.
2) Contributes to the “file drawer effect” – as only statistically significant findings are published. This means that findings that challenge existing understanding might be overlooked as they are not published