The Other Lab: Peer Review

By Richard Bond

“Peer review is fundamental to scientific and scholarly communication but… outside the scientific community very few people know what it means or how it works”

From: Michael Mabe, Elsevier publications, in “Scientists told to enlighten the confused”, The Times Higher, November 4 2005.

This afternoon I’m delighted to be joined in the studio by Professor Terry Miggins who is going to enlighten us about something which is fundamental to science. Peer review. Good afternoon Professor.

Just call me Terry.

OK Terry, tell us then, what exactly is peer review?

Well, it’s very simple really Julie. It’s a process whereby scientists decide among themselves whether or not a particular piece of research is valid or significant.

And how do they do that exactly?

Well, typically, a research paper or proposal is reviewed by a number of different scientists independently, and then they come together and form a collective judgement.

And how do they do that exactly?

They use their expertise. They are experts, so if anyone will know, they certainly will.

And how do they know exactly?

What?

How do they know?

Because they’re experts.

But how do we know they’re right?

What?

How do we know that their judgement is right?

Because they’re experts. That’s what we mean by an expert, someone who knows an awful lot about a subject, so we trust and respect their judgement.

Who does?

We fellow scientists for a start.

So it’s really all about mutual trust and respect among scientists?

Well…..

And where do the public feature in all this?

We’re hoping that by understanding peer review, the public will be able to see how science works and be better informed about what research is valid and what isn’t. Stop all this nonsense in the tabloid press and on the wretched Internet being taken seriously.

So, what you’re saying is, don’t trust anything unless we scientists tell you that it’s OK to believe it, because we have this thing called ‘peer review’ that involves us deciding among ourselves what’s valid and what isn’t and you should trust and respect us because we’re experts and you’re not.

Well…...

Thank you Terry, that was very enlightening.

Professor Miggins if you please, Julie.