Peer review in a pickle: Policy approaches for academic peer review

Abstract

While the universal proliferation of peer review has improved the quality control of academic work, increased pressures on peer review from modern science have exposed cracks in its current implementation. This paper aims to provide an introduction to the world of academic peer review for academic audiences and policymakers, focusing on changes in its incentives since inception and possible paths forward. Looking through a historical lens on the issues of today permits this paper to contextualize modern problems in peer review and explore possible trajectories between governmental decision-making and the peer review process. The goal of this review paper is to introduce policy strategies based on incentive systems that can address modern issues in peer review to improve the quality and significance of peer-reviewed research.