The Scientific Process & Peer Review

THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS AND PEER REVIEW

Description

- Assessing the quality of research (peer review) is part of the process of science.

- Allocation of research funding ensures it is spent on high quality research.

- Research in academic journals and books prevent incorrect data being published.

- Research rating of university departments is determined by REF (The Research Excellence Framework) peer review.

- Online journals (e.g. Philica) policed by 'wisdom of crowds'.

Evaluation

Finding an expert - for some topics, there aren't suitable 'peers'.

Anonymity - may help bury rival research.

Publication bias - journals prefer to publish positive results.

Status quo - preference against research that challenges accepted theories.

Fraudulent research - remains in public domain.