"Peer review" is an important aspect of the scientific method. Any scientific claim should face basic scrutiny from other experts in the field in order to weed out clearly invalid or unscientific arguments. But peer review is also open to some obvious abuses. An entrenched scientific establishment can use peer review to close ranks against a radical new idea, regardless of its scientific merit. By the same token, an establishment can conspire to grease the wheels for fellow members of the clique, ensuring that they get their articles published in prestigious journals while others don't.
The Fix Is In
The Fix Is In
The Fix Is In
"Peer review" is an important aspect of the scientific method. Any scientific claim should face basic scrutiny from other experts in the field in order to weed out clearly invalid or unscientific arguments. But peer review is also open to some obvious abuses. An entrenched scientific establishment can use peer review to close ranks against a radical new idea, regardless of its scientific merit. By the same token, an establishment can conspire to grease the wheels for fellow members of the clique, ensuring that they get their articles published in prestigious journals while others don't.