Peer review

• Peer review

  Assessment of scientific work by others who are specialists in the same field to ensure that any research intended for publication is of high quality
• What does peer review involve?

  All aspects of the written investigation being scrutinized by a small group of usually 2 or 3 experts (peers) in the particular field, who conduct an objective review and are unknown to the author or researcher
• 3 aims of peer review

  To allocate research funding

  To validate the quality and relevance of research

  To suggest amendments or improvements
• Allocating research funding

  Independent peer evaluation takes place to decide whether or not to award funding for a proposed research project, which may be co-ordinated by government-run funding organizations who have vested interest in establishing which research projects are most worthwhile
• Validating the quality and relevance of research

  All elements of research are assessed for quality and accuracy - formulation of hypotheses, chosen methodology, statistical tests used, and conclusions drawn
• Suggesting amendments or improvements

  Reviewers may suggest minor revisions of the work and thereby improve the report

  In extreme cases, they may conclude that the work is inappropriate for publication and should be withdrawn