How does peer review contribute to the reliability of scientific knowledge? 1. It ensures that only popular ideas are accepted. 2. It allows scientists to critique and validate each other’s work before it is published. 3. It prevents new ideas from being introduced. 4. It guarantees that all scientific theories are correct.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: 2. It allows scientists to critique and validate each other’s work before it is published.

Peer review is a critical process in scientific publishing that helps ensure the quality, credibility, and reliability of research findings. It involves experts in the field evaluating a study's methodology, data analysis, and conclusions before it is made public, which helps identify any potential errors, biases, or weaknesses in the research. This scrutiny contributes to the overall integrity of scientific knowledge.

The other options do not accurately describe the role of peer review:

1. It does not ensure that only popular ideas are accepted; relevance and evidence are what matter.
2. It does not prevent new ideas from being introduced; rather, it assesses their validity and significance.
3. It does not guarantee that all scientific theories are correct; it works to improve the quality and rigor of research findings but cannot ensure absolute correctness.