Journals must expand access to peer review data

Area of Science:

• Scientific publishing
• Research integrity
• Scholarly communication

Background:

• Empirical studies investigating peer review bias are predominantly conducted by researchers from privileged backgrounds and affiliated with the journals under examination.
• A significant barrier to conducting comprehensive peer review research is limited access to relevant data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and propose actionable pathways for broadening access to peer review data.
• To enable researchers from diverse backgrounds to conduct empirical studies on peer review bias.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing barriers to peer review data access.
• Analysis of potential solutions for data sharing and anonymization.
• Framework development for equitable data access.

Main Results:

• Identified key obstacles in current peer review data accessibility.
• Outlined several strategies to facilitate broader data sharing.
• Proposed a model for inclusive peer review research.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing data access is crucial for diversifying the research on peer review bias.
• Implementing proposed pathways can foster more representative and robust empirical studies.
• Promoting equitable access to data is essential for advancing research integrity.