Peer review

• Peer review is where work submitted for publication is scrutinised by other experts in the field making sure no faulty data enters public arena.
• Shaughnessy et al (2003) found that in 2003 only 1/3 manuscripts sent to the journals of the APS were accepted for publication.
• Aims of peer review:

  • Allocate research funding - whether or not to allocate funding for the proposed research project
  • Validate quality and relevance of research - Accuracy, formulation of hypotheses, methodology chosen
  • Amendments/improvements
• • peer doing review remains anonymous which increases chance of + approval
  • Some may use this anonymity to criticise rival researchers
  • Publication bias only publish findings that are 'headline grabbing'
  • Prefer to publish + results