Explain the term ‘peer review.’

Peer review refers to the practice of submitting an author's work to evaluation by other knowledgeable individuals who are experts in the same field. This process is crucial in the academic and scientific communities, as it helps ensure the quality, credibility, and academic rigor of the work being published.

During peer review, the reviewers assess various aspects of the submission, including the reliability of the methodology, the relevance of the research question, the validity of the conclusions drawn, and the overall contribution to the field. The feedback provided can lead to necessary revisions, improving the quality of the work before it reaches the audience. Furthermore, peer review serves as a gatekeeping mechanism that helps maintain high standards in scholarly publishing, fostering trust in the results shared in the academic community.

The other options do not capture this critical process. Self-evaluating one's work is more internal and subjective, while collecting data for research and drafting involve different stages of the research and writing process, separate from the evaluative function of peer review.