Peer Review

What is peer review?

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

What is the role of peer review?

Produce knowledge through conducting research. Research findings are publicised through conferences, textbooks. Must go through the process before becoming apart of a journal

What are the main aims of peer review?

Provide recommendations about whether research should be published, suggest improvements. Validate the quality and relevance of the research, assess originality and inform allocation of future research

The first step in the peer review process

A psychologist completes a piece of research in a generally agreed format

The second step in the peer review process

The psychologist sends their research to a psychological journal for consideration. Other psychologists check the research report before deciding whether it could be published

The third step in the peer review process

The journal will send the report for independent scrutiny by other psychologists working in a similar field. This psychologist is the reviewer

The fourth step in the peer review process

Work is considered in terms of its validity, significance and originality and there is an assessment of the appropriateness of the methods and designs used

The fifth step in the peer review process

Reviewer can accept the manuscript as it is or suggests the author makes revisions and re-submits or reject without the possibility of re-submission

The sixth step in the peer review process

The reviewer sends the research back to the editor of the journal

Why is it important to get published in a peer-reviewed journal?

Articles that are published in peer reviewed journals are of greater standard than those published in journal. Research only gets published if it makes an important contribution to the scientific field

Why is peer review an important aspect of the scientific process?

Difficult for authors and researchers to spot mistakes in their work. Prevents the spread of irrelevant findings, unwarranted claims, personal views and deliberate fraud. Judges the quality and significance of the research in a wider context. Can assess the original work

Evaluation of peer review - what are the criticisms?

Anonymity and publication bias

Anonymity

Peer reviewer is suppose to stay anonymous. Minority may use their anonymity to criticise rival researchers who they recognise. Many researchers are in direct competition for limited research funding. Some journals favour a system of open reviewing where the name of the reviewer is made public

Publication bias

Publishers prefer to publish positive results - file draw problem. Bias towards publishing studies with positive results. Findings that don’t support the hypothesis don’t get published. Doesn’t produce a balanced view of research. Tends to be rejected. Creates a false impression