Peer review process
Two points of the peer review process seem especially important to me. First, it is important that the peer reviewers are working separately and do not share their findings before arriving at a definitive conclusion. I think it is important because it eliminates the cognitive bias of groupthink and allows increasing the objectivity by aggregating several independently made conclusions. Second, I think it is important that the peer reviewers do not receive the information about the author of the manuscript. If this would be the case, the reputation of the author will likely get in the way of objective judgment. The fundamental principle of the scientific method is the priority of evidence over reputation, and blinding of the process warrants the adherence to this principle.
Differences between Editors and Peer Reviewers
There are two main differences between the editor and the peer reviewers. First, the editor considers the overall value of the article whereas the peer reviewers verify the specificities of the methodology. From this standpoint, the latter performs a more technical role. Second, one of the editor’s responsibilities is communication with the author of the article intended to reach the desired goal whereas peer reviewers assess the content and point to the discrepancies. Thus, the editor has an observable share of influence on the final product.
Information on Peer Review
The article by Riggs, Lozano, Mohelnitzky, Rudnick, and Richards (2014) was peer-reviewed. The easiest way to verify this is to refer to the profile of the publication source, The Permanente Journal, which clearly states that the articles undergo the peer review (The Permanente Journal, n.d.). Since peer review is a procedure recommended by the academic standards, the journals that incorporate it usually specify it in their profiles. Therefore, the peer-reviewed information should be sought primarily in the overview of the source as its inclusion adds to the source’s credibility.
References
The Permanente Journal. (n.d.). About the journal. Web.
Riggs, K. R., Lozano, P., Mohelnitzky, A., Rudnick, S., & Richards, J. (2014). An adaptation of family-based behavioral pediatric obesity treatment for a primary care setting: Group health family wellness program pilot. The Permanente Journal, 18(3), 4-10.