role of peer review

Peer review

assessment of scientific work by others who are specialists in the same field to ensure any research intended for publication is a high quality

All aspects of investigation are scrutinised by 2-3 experts

The purpose of peer review is to- validate quality and relevance

Look at:

• Research question

• Hypothesis formulation

• Methodology

• Ethical considerations

• Stats tests used

• Conclusions drawn

Purpose of peer review - to suggest amendments

• Editor might make minor reviews / conclude not suitable for publication

Purpose of peer review - allocation of research funding

• Government - medical research council

-> funding must go to most useful + most valid research as its used to inform social policy

Purpose of peer review - assessing the research rating of university departments

• All university science departments are expected to conduct research - this is assessed in terms of quality - funding of the department depends on receiving good ratings from peer reviews

The internet and peer review

• New solutions are needed to maintain quality of information as more information is now available online.

• “Wisdom of crowds” approach means readers decide wether it’s valid or not.

 

Evaluation of peer review - isn’t always possible to find expert for review

• Poor research may be passed because the reviewer might not have properly understood it. Reviewers may also be biased towards prestigious researchers rather than less well known names - highlights the need to always take a rigorous approach to appointing reviewers.

Evaluation - reviewers may have to keep identity secret

• allows them to be honest  and objective. However, it may have the opposite effect if researchers use the anonymity to bury rival research, as people compete for research grants and jobs so may want other peoples research in the same field to fail. Some journals now favour open reviewing instead

Evaluation - publication bias

Journals tend to prefer to publish positive results, increasing the standing of their journal, which results in bias in published research leading to misperception of true facts.