Scientific Process - Peer Review

Question 1

What is the purpose of a peer review?

Answer 1

To retain the integrity of psychological research of psychological research

Question 2

What is the 1st step of the peer review process?

Answer 2

Research proposals are submitted to a panel and assessed for merit before research takes place

Work is considered in terms of its:
Validity
Reliability
Significance
Originality
Also an assessment of appropriateness of methodology and its experimental design

Question 3

What can reviewers do after looking at the research proposal (step 2)?

Answer 3

Accept the research report
Accept the research report with revisions
Suggests the author makes revisions to the proposal and re-submit it
Reject the report without the possibility of re-submit ion

Question 4

What do editors of journals do after a research report has been accepted (step 3)?

Answer 4

They make the decision whether to accept the research based on reviewers’ comments and recommendations

Question 5

What are the purposes for peer reviewing?

Answer 5

To ensure quality and relevance of research

Reduce chance of flawed/unscientific research being published (prevent misinformation)

Improve quality by suggesting amendments

Question 6

What are the pros of peer reviews?

Answer 6

Independent scrutiny means higher probability of errors being found

Double-blind procedure can be used so the researcher doesn’t know who will peer review
Usually involves a specialist who has exceptional knowledge to judge it

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of peer review?

Answer 7

If expert not found, they might judge bad research as good

Might be biased to publish research which will be popular

Some reviewers may have favourites when reviewing work