Resource: peer review process

Sense about Science is a UK nonprofit that promotes evidence-based science and public education/discussion regarding the scientific process. They have a free downloadable pamphlet describing the role of peer review in the scientific process – basically trying to help the public distinguish between what is considered legitimate (although not necessarily proven) in the scientific community versus what would be considered an unsubstantiated claim (for example, the claim that MMR vaccines cause autism, which is largely rejected by the scientific community based on a number of large, peer reviewed studies). If you’re interested, a description of their free, downloadable literature on the peer review process is available here.

The pamphlet, "I don't know what to believe..." is a short public guide to peer review, published by Sense About Science on 2 November 2005, 8pp. Its goal is to make “more sectors of society familiar with what they should ask about research that worries or interests them. It equips people to inquire whether research has passed the scrutiny of other scientists and is considered valid, significant and original.”