Critical reflections on the journal peer review process

Tight, Malcolm (2024) Critical reflections on the journal peer review process. Higher Education Research and Development, 43 (6). pp. 1203-1209. ISSN 0729-4360

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Abstract

The journal article review process is one of the more troubling areas of academic life. Research indicates that journals’ practices are highly varied. This article discusses a number of issues related to this issue: when submitted articles disappear in ‘black holes’; when the review process appears endless; when different standards are being applied; and when it seems you are never going to get a worthwhile article published. It is suggested that journals need to provide more guidance for both reviewers and authors, that reviewing needs to be recognised in academic workload models, and that perhaps we need an academic Hippocratic oath.