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Federal Research: Peer Review Practices at Federal Science Agencies Vary

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date March 17, 1999
Report No. RCED-99-99
Subject
Summary:

The federal government will invest $80 billion in fiscal year 1999 on research and development done by government scientists and through grants, contracts, or other agreements with universities, corporations, small businesses, and other members of the research community. GAO was asked to study the peer review and other quality assurance processes that federal agencies use in conducting scientific research and development. GAO reviewed 12 federal agencies to (1) define what is meant by peer review, (2) describe the federal government's peer review policy, (3) describe the peer review practices of the agencies that conduct scientific research, (4) describe other agency quality assurance reviews, and (5) identify which research is not subject to review. GAO found that there is no written governmentwide definition of peer review and that each of the 12 agencies had various policies, orders, or other internal guidance on the conduct of peer reviews.

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