Efficacy, efficiency, and models of journal peer review: the known and unknown in the social sciences

Abstract

This chapter explores the main challenges of peer review in scientific journals, with special attention to our current knowledge and key research gaps on journal peer review in the social sciences. The first part of the chapter examines the efficacy and efficiency of peer review in selecting the most valid and important contributions and in contributing to the improvement of scientific manuscripts, as well as issues of low reliability, bias, and large direct and indirect costs. The second part of the chapter discusses different models of peer review according to the anonymity of authors and reviewers, the pros and cons of post-publication peer review, and the ongoing debate about the need and risks of reforming peer review. The chapter concludes with implications for journal editors and manuscript evaluation.