Peer Review

Question 1

what happens before a piece of research is published?

Answer 1

• it is subject to peer review, involving all aspects of the written investigation being scrutinised by a small group

Question 2

what are the main aims of peer review?

Answer 2

• to allocate research funding
• to validate the quality of relevance of research
• to suggest amendments or improvements

Question 3

what is allocating research funding?

Answer 3

• decide whether or not to award funding for a proposed research project

Question 4

what is validating the quality and relevance of research?

Answer 4

• formulation of hypotheses, methodology chosen, statistical tests and conclusions drawn are assessed for quality and accuracy

Question 5

what is suggesting amendments or improvements?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

what happens in extreme circumstances of peer review?

Answer 6

• the work is considered inappropriate for publication and should be withdrawn

Question 7

what are the key points of the evaluation of peer review?

Answer 7

• anonymity
• publication bias
• burying groundbreaking research

Question 8

what is anonymity?

Answer 8

• peer doing reviewing should remain anonymous throughout the process as this is likely to produce a more honest appraisal
• but some reviewers may use their anonymity as a way of criticising rival researchers
• some journals favour the system of open reviewing

Question 9

what is publication bias?

Answer 9

• this is the natural tendency for editors of journals to want to publish significant ‘headline grabbing’ finding to increase credibility and circulation of their publication
• prefer to publish positive results
• research that does nor meet criteria is ignored

Question 10

what is burying groundbreaking research?

Answer 10

• may suppress opposition to mainstream theories, wishing to maintain the status quo within particular scientific fields
• reviewers also tend to be critical of research that goes against their views and more favourable to those that do