The role of the scientific community Flashcards
What is a peer review in psychological research?
A Peer review in psychology refers to the process of subjecting research articles, studies, or papers to evaluation by experts in the same field before they are published. The purpose of peer review is to ensure that the research meets high standards of scientific rigor and contributes to the existing knowledge in the field.
Describe the process of peer review.
Researcher submits article to journal.
Journal assessed by editor of journal.
If accepted by editor, article is sent to reviewers (who is also an expert in the field).
Reviewers are normally kept anonymous from the article’s author.
Reviewers submit their comments to the editor.
Editor may reject the article or return it to the author to make revisions.
Revised article is re-submitted to editor for publication.
What are three reasons why peer review is important in research?
1) Quality control: Peer review helps maintain the quality and integrity of research in psychology. It ensures that studies undergo scrutiny from experts who can identify potential flaws, biases, or errors in the research design, methodology, analysis, or interpretation.
2) Validation and credibility: When a study successfully passes through the peer review process and gets published in a reputable journal, it indicates that the research has undergone rigorous evaluation by experts in the field. This adds to the confidence and trust in the findings for both researchers and the broader scientific community.
3) Promotes rigorous scrutiny of research methodologies and data analysis. This critical examination helps identify potential weaknesses, inconsistencies, or limitations in the research, which can be addressed and improved before publication.
What is a weakness of Peer Review
One weakness of peer review is the potential for bias or subjectivity in the process. Peer reviewers may have personal opinions, preferences, or conflicts of interest that could affect their evaluation.
This subjectivity can sometimes result in biases that may influence the acceptance or rejection of a manuscript.
Additionally, the peer review process may introduce delays in the dissemination of research, as the time taken for multiple rounds of review and revision can be lengthy. Consequently, ground-breaking or time-sensitive research findings may be delayed in reaching the wider scientific community.
What are all the sections of a psychological report in order (7 things)
Abstract
Intro
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Reference
Appendices:
What is covered in the ABSTRACT section of a phycological report
Abstract: The abstract is a concise summary of the main points of the report. It provides an overview of the research question or purpose, the methodology used, the key findings, and the main conclusions. Despite being the first thing on a report, it is written last.
What is covered in the INTRODUCTION section of a psychological report
Introduction: The introduction section introduces the topic or research question, provides background information, previous research, and outlines the purpose and objectives of the study.
What is covered in the METHODOLOGY section of a psychological report
Methodology: The methodology section describes the research design, participants, data collection methods, and procedures used in the study. It explains how the data were collected and analysed, including details about the sample, measures or instruments used, and any statistical analyses performed. This section should provide sufficient information for others to replicate the study.
What is covered in the RESULTS section of a psychological report
Results: The results section presents the findings of the study in a clear and organized manner. It includes the analysis of data and the presentation of quantitative or qualitative results. The results section often utilizes tables, graphs, or charts to illustrate the data and statistical analyses. It should report the main findings, significant patterns, relationships, or trends observed, and any statistical tests or measures of effect size.
What is covered in the DISCUSSION section of a psychological report
Discussion: The discussion section interprets and analyses the results in the context of the research question and objectives. It explains the implications of the findings, compares them to existing literature, and discusses their limitations and strengths. The discussion may also address any unexpected or contradictory results and propose future directions for research.
What is covered in the REFERENCES section of a psychological report
References: The references section lists all the sources cited within the report, such as books, journal articles, or other relevant publications.
What is covered in the APPENDICES section of a psychological report
Appendices: The appendices section includes any supplementary material that is relevant to the report but not included in the main body. This can include additional tables, questionnaires, interview transcripts, or other supporting documentation that enhances the understanding of the research.
