The GRA Peer Review Process
GRA has a two-stage peer review process when commissioning research projects.
1. At initial selection stage prior to interview.
2. At final (draft) report stage.
Initial selection stage
The GRA Secretariat identifies peer reviewers at both stages of the peer review process.
In receiving tender/quote (tender) submissions, the GRA Secretariat and at least two members of the GRA (Procurement Team) will consider each tender response against the project evaluation criteria, normally detailed in Part A of the tender documentation.
The shortlisted tenderers will have Part D of their tender documentation sent to two independent peer reviewers for comment on the proposed methodology.
The GRA Secretariat will seek a peer review of the proposed methodologies as provided in the tenderers' Part D responses.
For consistency, Part D and Part D only is provided to the peer reviewers.
NB: The tender documentation provides that all aspects of a proposed methodology must be included in the Part D response.
The Secretariat requests selected reviewers to comment on the quality of tender submissions short-listed for possible interview by the Procurement Team. To maintain credible peer review practice, the Secretariat has a responsibility to ensure that reviewers are active and productive in their research specialities and that their expertise is appropriate to the proposals/reports they are being requested to assess.
Reviewers are required to give an overall rating on the methodology of each tender, and may provide additional comments about the tender. In reaching a final decision on the successful tender, the Procurement Team will consider the reviewers’ feedback.
Reviewers are not members of the Procurement Team. Their role is solely to advise on the scientific merit of the methodology by looking at aspects such as the clarity of hypotheses, and the strengths and weaknesses of the research design.
Review at final (draft) report stage
Prior to GRA endorsing a report for publication, it is sent to two independent peer reviewers to ascertain, amongst other things -
· Adherence to the proposed methodology.
· The scope of the literature review (where relevant).
· The adequacy of hypothesis testing and data analysis.
· The validity and reliability of statistical or mathematical models utilised.
· The interpretation and discussion of results, and particularly whether alternative explanations are addressed.
· The relevance and strength of the conclusions drawn.
· That the language is accessible to a variety of audiences, including policy makers, service providers and the general community.
On receiving a draft final report, the Secretariat will undertake an initial review and, if satisfied, send it to two peer reviewers and to the GRA for comment.
The Secretariat will provide on an anonymous basis the comments received from the peer reviewers and GRA comments to the researcher.
These comments are to be considered by the researcher and any suggested amendment made accordingly or written response to the Secretariat as to why comments from the reviewers are not acceptable. Once comments have been considered, the final report is submitted to the GRA for acceptance prior to publishing.
A limited number of copies of the report is printed and distributed to each of the jurisdictions. All published reports appear on the GRA website.
Gambling Research Australia Secretariat121 Exhibition Street MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Phone No: (03) 8684 1932
Fax No: (03) 8684 1900
Email:
grasecretariat@justice.vic.gov.auURL:
www.gamblingresearch.org.au