Difference between revisions of "Peer review"
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'''Peer review''' means scrutiny of a professional's work by others in the same profession. For example, a "peer-reviewed" medical journal requires other physicians to review and approve an article before it can be published. A "peer-reviewed" scientific journal requires other scientists to review and approve an article before publication. | '''Peer review''' means scrutiny of a professional's work by others in the same profession. For example, a "peer-reviewed" medical journal requires other physicians to review and approve an article before it can be published. A "peer-reviewed" scientific journal requires other scientists to review and approve an article before publication. | ||
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| + | Peer review is no guarantee of correctness. It just means an article is good enough to be checked by other scientists. If an article fails peer review, it is either because (1) the research was so poorly conducted or described that there's no point in other scientists bothering with it, or (2) it represents such a challenge to established scientific belief that the journal chooses to suppress it. | ||
A controversial form of peer review is when physicians on the staff of a hospital pass judgment on a fellow physician, and recommend that he be excluded from the medical staff. This has potential for abuse to eliminate competitors, which is known as [[sham peer review]]. | A controversial form of peer review is when physicians on the staff of a hospital pass judgment on a fellow physician, and recommend that he be excluded from the medical staff. This has potential for abuse to eliminate competitors, which is known as [[sham peer review]]. | ||
[[category:science]] | [[category:science]] | ||
Revision as of 12:28, May 2, 2007
Peer review means scrutiny of a professional's work by others in the same profession. For example, a "peer-reviewed" medical journal requires other physicians to review and approve an article before it can be published. A "peer-reviewed" scientific journal requires other scientists to review and approve an article before publication.
Peer review is no guarantee of correctness. It just means an article is good enough to be checked by other scientists. If an article fails peer review, it is either because (1) the research was so poorly conducted or described that there's no point in other scientists bothering with it, or (2) it represents such a challenge to established scientific belief that the journal chooses to suppress it.
A controversial form of peer review is when physicians on the staff of a hospital pass judgment on a fellow physician, and recommend that he be excluded from the medical staff. This has potential for abuse to eliminate competitors, which is known as sham peer review.