Archive for 17 April 2007
The As-Is Journal Review Process
| Peter Klein |
Eric Tsang and Bruno Frey urge editors to dump the revise-and-resubmit option, using “as-is” reviews instead. (Published version here, SSRN version here.)
[A] manuscript should be reviewed on an “as is” basis. Similar to developmental review, the process is double-blind and referees are encouraged to provide constructive comments on a manuscript. In contrast with developmental review, referees are given only two options when advising the editor regarding whether the manuscript should be published: accept or reject. The option of (minor or major) revision and resubmission is ruled out. Based on the referees’ recommendations, and his or her own reading of the manuscript, the editor makes the decision to accept or reject the manuscript. If the editor accepts the manuscript (subject to normal copy editing), he or she will inform the authors accordingly, enclosing the editorial comments and comments made by the referees. It is up to the authors to decide whether, and to what extent, they would like to incorporate these comments when they work on their revision for eventual publication. As a condition of acceptance, the authors are required to write a point-by-point response to the comments. If they refuse to accept a comment, they have to clearly state the reasons. The editor will pass on the response to the referees. In sum, the fate of a submitted manuscript is determined by one round of review, and authors of an accepted manuscript are required to make one round of revision.
Tsang and Frey identify four potential advantages to as-is reviewing: (1) authors don’t have to incorporate silly reviewer suggestions; (2) published papers reflect more closely the views of their authors, reducing “intellectual prostitution”; (3) the review process proceeds more quickly; and (4) authors are more likely to provide frank feedback to reviewers, improving the quality of the dialogue between peers. (Certainly this would eliminate the gratuitous “Thank you so much for your insightful comments” that begins every author response to referees.) There are drawbacks too, of course, but Tsang and Frey make a strong argument that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. What do readers think?
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