The scientific process and peer review

Question 1

What is peer review?

Answer 1

The practice of using independent experts to asses the quality and validity of scientific research and academic reports.

Question 2

What are the 6 stages of peer review?

Answer 2

1. Psychologist studies behaviour & produces report
2. Sent to journal editor, sent out for peer review
3. Independent scrutiny by other psychologist in similar field - read and provide feedback
4. Valid? Significant? Original? Appropriate design/method?
5. Can accept outright, accept with revisions, suggest revisions for resubmission, reject without resubmission
   6.1 Suggest revisions - not high scientific standards again = rejection
   6.2 Meeting editorial and peer standards = published in journal

Question 3

What are the 3 purposes of peer review?

Answer 3

Allocation of research funding.
Publication of research in journals and books.
Assessing the research rating of university departments.

Question 4

(AO3) Why, in some circumstances, may it be difficult to complete a peer review?

Answer 4

Difficulty in finding an expert. Unpopular field etc. Poor research may be published if the reviewer didn’t understand it.

Question 5

(AO3) What are the strengths and limitations of anonymity in peer review?

Answer 5

Allows reviewers to be honest and objective.
May use veil of anonymity to settle old scores or squash rival research. Social relationships impact objectivity.

Question 6

(AO3) What is publication bias?

Answer 6

Journals tend to produce positive results to boost reputation of journal. No study replicas (very important in psychology). Want to produce ‘revolutionary’ reports or whatever. Leads to important research going unnoticed.