Does publication in top-tier journals affect reviewer behavior?

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Bibliometrics
• Scientific Publishing

Background:

• Peer review is a critical component of scientific publishing.
• Understanding factors influencing peer review outcomes is essential for maintaining scientific integrity.
• Previous research has not fully explored the relationship between reviewer publication history and manuscript rejection rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between ecologists' publication frequency in high-impact journals and their recommended manuscript rejection rates.
• To determine if reviewer age influences recommended rejection rates.
• To identify potential biases in the peer review process beyond scientific merit.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of reported rejection rates by ecologists acting as peer reviewers.
• Statistical examination of the relationship between publication frequency (in high-impact journals) and rejection rates.
• Statistical examination of the relationship between reviewer age and rejection rates.

Main Results:

• Recommended rejection rates increase with higher publication frequency in high-impact journals.
• Reviewer age was not found to be significantly correlated with recommended rejection rates.
• These findings suggest publication history may influence peer review decisions.

Conclusions:

• Manuscript acceptance likelihood may depend on factors beyond scientific merit, such as reviewer publication experience.
• Selecting peer reviewers should consider a diversity of publication backgrounds to ensure balanced evaluations.
• Senior scientists' reviewing practices are not necessarily biased by age, as age did not correlate with rejection rates.