B. theories unify a broad range of observations and hypothesis. hypothesis combine the ideas of several theories to explain events.

When the use of experiments to answer questions is impossible or unethical, scientists test predictions by examining correlations.

New scientific information needs to go through peer review, which is when research and papers are examined by other experts in the field to make sure that the findings are valid. When a brand-new idea is suggested, the first step is to collect evidence.

How does sharing ideas through peer-reviewed articles help advance science? The scientist thinks the information could save thousands of lives and immediately announces the results on national television, skipping peer review.

In science, the word “theory” applies to a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses and that enables scientists to make accurate predictions about new situations.

Peer review involves subjecting the author’s scholarly work and research to the scrutiny of other experts in the same field to check its validity and evaluate its suitability for publication. A peer review helps the publisher decide whether a work should be accepted.

If the article is from a printed journal, look at the publication information in the front of the journal. If the article is from an electronic journal, go to the journal home page and look for a link to ‘About this journal’ or ‘Notes for Authors’. Here it should tell you if the articles are peer-reviewed.

Peer-reviewed (refereed or scholarly) journals – Articles are written by experts and are reviewed by several other experts in the field before the article is published in the journal in order to ensure the article’s quality.

Also called ‘refereeing’, peer review is the assessment of scientific work by others who are experts in the same field (i.e peers). The intention is to ensure that any research conducted and published is of high quality. Peer reviewers are generally unpaid.