Peer Review

• What is peer review?

  Where psychological research is assessed by independent experts in the same field before it is published in academic journals.
• What is the purpose of peer review?

  Ensures research is accurate and of good quality. Checks the validity of the study and that the conclusions are fully supported by data. Also checks the study follows ethical guidelines and whether the research produced is valuable and useful in today’s society.
• Describe the process of peer review.

  The research is submitted. The editor checks the research is relevant to the subject and hypothesis. Experts within the research’s field are selected. A single or double blind procedure is used. The reviewer provides feedback and decided whether the research is accepted or rejected.
• How is a single or double blind procedure used in peer review?

  Single - Either the author knows the researcher and the researcher doesn’t know the author, or the researcher knows the author but the author doesn’t know the researcher.

  Double - Neither the author or researcher know each other.
• Evaluate the strengths of peer review.

  +Improves the credibility of published research

  +Removes useless or unethical research

  +Maintains high psychological standards
• Evaluate the weakness of peer review.

  -Reviewers may show bias

  -Time-consuming process

  -Uncommon research may be rejected if it is not within the public’s interest

  -Hard to find appropriate experts on unusual topics

  -One published results forever remain in public view even if signs of fraud are missed
• How is peer review funded?

  By government and charity bodies, therefore the research needs to be worthwhile.