Reviewer acknowledgment lists as data: Low-hanging fruit for analysis

Area of Science:

• Sociology of Science
• Bibliometrics
• Peer Review Studies

Background:

• Journals often publish annual reviewer acknowledgement lists.
• These lists can serve as a form of expert legitimation in prestigious publications.
• This practice presents an alternative data source for peer review research, mitigating reliance on proprietary data.

Discussion:

• Analysis of reviewer acknowledgement lists can address questions of intra- and inter-disciplinary stratification.
• This method, despite limitations, offers a novel approach to studying scientific communities.
• Pilot study results from criminology and sociology publications are presented.

Key Insights:

• Reviewer acknowledgements provide a public dataset for analyzing scientific expertise and influence.
• Stratification patterns within and between academic disciplines can be identified.
• The study demonstrates the utility of acknowledgement lists for sociological analysis of science.

Outlook:

• Further research can expand this methodology to other disciplines.
• Investigating the long-term impact of reviewer acknowledgements on scientific careers is warranted.
• This approach can contribute to a more transparent understanding of peer review dynamics.