We Never Know
No Slack
Not a bad article. I see many times in discussions here where it is voiced only peer reviewed links are acceptable. It also goes into ways to improve peer review. Granted the study is from 2006 but it still interesting. I posted one paragraph and the conclusion of the complete article/study. If you want to read more click the link.
Peer review: a flawed process at the heart of science and journals.
The defects of peer review.
So we have little evidence on the effectiveness of peer review, but we have considerable evidence on its defects. In addition to being poor at detecting gross defects and almost useless for detecting fraud it is slow, expensive, profligate of academic time, highly subjective, something of a lottery, prone to bias, and easily abused.
CONCLUSION
So peer review is a flawed process, full of easily identified defects with little evidence that it works. Nevertheless, it is likely to remain central to science and journals because there is no obvious alternative, and scientists and editors have a continuing belief in peer review. How odd that science should be rooted in belief.
Peer review: a flawed process at the heart of science and journals
Peer review: a flawed process at the heart of science and journals.
The defects of peer review.
So we have little evidence on the effectiveness of peer review, but we have considerable evidence on its defects. In addition to being poor at detecting gross defects and almost useless for detecting fraud it is slow, expensive, profligate of academic time, highly subjective, something of a lottery, prone to bias, and easily abused.
CONCLUSION
So peer review is a flawed process, full of easily identified defects with little evidence that it works. Nevertheless, it is likely to remain central to science and journals because there is no obvious alternative, and scientists and editors have a continuing belief in peer review. How odd that science should be rooted in belief.
Peer review: a flawed process at the heart of science and journals
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