Peer review
Cards (5)
- What is peer review?Quality-controlled mechanism to ensure only valid, significant + original research is published in scientific journals = only high quality findings are added to body of scientific knowledge + conveyed to wider public
- Give a basic outline of the peer review process
- Research submitted for publication in scientific journal
- Journal editorial board sends it out for peer review from panel of experts
- Independent experts scrutinise report then consider results' validity
- Peer reviewers make recommendations to editorial board about whether it is appropriate to publish study
- Various recommendations can be made, e.g. publish with no changes/suggested revisions/after report's researchers make more suggested revisions
- If report is deemed insignificant or unoriginal then the recommendation is not to publish
- Why is peer review conducted?It ensures:
- Psychology's integrity retained -> only valid, reliable + relevant research published
- Members of public not harmed by fraudulent/flawed research
- Accuracy of psychological research findings trusted because studies are independently reviewed
- How does the peer review process help the validation of new knowledge?Reports assessed by independent observers = more likely to spot issues than researchers who originally did study
- Increases probability of error identification -> validity of any new knowledge ensured
- How can peer review impede the validation of new knowledge?
- Research with findings that fit current scientific understanding may be published more easily (academic bias)
- Subjective bias can limit publishing potential; if it goes against strongly held views of peer reviewers it may be rejected
- 'File drawer' effect -> studies more likely to be published if they support an alternative hypothesis
- Slow process that delays publication of new knowledge
- Replication studies not published often -> they are 'boring' although replication = vital
- Not always possible to find experts to do peer review