Peer review

Why is peer review carried out? (2)

Peer review is completed to decide if a study should be funded before it is carried out, and it is completed after the study is done to see if it should be published

What happens to approved research studies?

Approved research studies go into a scientific journal

What is the purpose of peer review? (2)

Peer review maintains the integrity of psychological research, and ensures flawed, fraudulent or unscientific research is not published

What is the process of a peer review assessment? (4)

Peer reviews determine if the study is scientifically valid, ethical, original, if it furthers psychological knowledge

What is included in the assessment of whether a study is scientifically valid? (3)

method, procedure, conclusions supported by results

What is an additional step taken when results are uncertain?

the peer reviewer may undertake a replication to check reliability

What possible conclusions can be made after a study is assessed? (3)

the study is either published, needs to be edited then can be published, or it cannot be published at all

Who makes the final decision of whether a study is published?

the editor of the scientific journal

What is considered when deciding if research should be funded or not? (2)

whether the research is worthwhile, whether the research is well designed and likely to further our understanding

What are possible conclusions when deciding if research can be funded or not? (3)

either the research can be funded, or the research should be changed to be more valid and ethical then it can be funded, or it should not be funded at all

Outline the general steps of research publication (2)

Completed studies are sent to a scientific journal to determine if it should be published or not, 3-4 peer reviewers who are experts in the same field as the researcher assess the study

Why are the peer reviewers unpaid?

peer reviewers are unpaid to avoid corruption so it is as part of a reciprocal system

Why are the peer reviewers anonymous? (2)

peer reviewers are anonymous to prevent positive or negative bias over the researcher’s findings, to maintain integrity of the researcher’s subject area