peer review

• describe the process of peer review

  • other psychologists check the research report
  • independent scrutiny from other psychologists working in a similar field
  • work considered in terms of validity, significance, originality
  • assessment of methods and designs used

  reviewer can:

  • accept report as it is
  • accept when revisions have been made
  • reject without resubmission

  editor makes final decision to accept/reject report based on reviewers judgements
• what are the purposes of peer review?

  • ensure quality and relevance of research
  • ensure accuracy of findings
  • evaluate proposed designs (eg aims and value of it) for research funding
  • research can be published- so scientists can share results and proof can counteract opposing ideas
  • helps with allocation of research funding- research paid for by government
• what are the strengths of peer review?

  • 😊prevents unjustified claims being made
  • 😊identify errors before they appear in public domain and people wrongly believe them as facts
  • 😊prevents publication of poor quality work
  • 😊helps uni departments to be rated and funded
• what are the weaknesses of peer review?

  • ☹️reviewers may be more biased to prestigious researchers rather than less well-known names
  • ☹️anonymity- can be used to bury rival research, affects objectivity
  • ☹️peer review has preference for research that supports the existing theory instead of checking for validity
  • ☹️journals prefer to publish positive results that will increase their standing, can avoid publishing exact replications of a study