Question

Professor Frankel is an editor for a psychology journal. She is considering which submissions to send out for peer review. Which of the following submissions is likely to receive the strongest consideration based on its research methods?

a.
A professor from Utah who used well-established methods
b.
A researcher from California who developed novel methods
c.
A professor from Illinois who employed rarely-used methods
d.
A postdoctoral fellow from Texas who used a controversial method

Answer 1

The submission from a professor from Utah who used well-established methods will likely receive the strongest consideration for peer review in a psychology journal due to their credibility and likelihood of being reproducible. The correct option is a.

Step-by-step explanation:

Considering which submissions to send out for peer review, an editor for a psychology journal would likely give the strongest consideration to the submission that uses well-established research methods.

This is because peer reviewers typically look for a strong rationale for the research, clear descriptions of how the research was conducted, and the use of valid and reliable methods. Well-established methods are more likely to be seen as credible and replicable by peers in the field, which is essential for advancing a discipline's knowledge.

Therefore, out of the options provided, a professor from Utah who used well-established methods is likely to receive the strongest consideration for peer review.

This submission likely adheres to the scientific method, allows for the replication of experiments, and provides evidence-based conclusions. In contrast, novel, rarely-used, or controversial methods may require additional scrutiny to evaluate their validity and could introduce risks in terms of reproducibility and ethical concerns. The correct option is a.