I'm handling a manuscript and have invited seventeen reviewers. So far, the responses are: no response, declined, declined, no response, declined, declined, declined, declined, declined, no response, no response. One person has turned in a review and I'm still trying to find a second reviewer.
Comments
Also editors - stop requesting review turn around within 10 days, that's a big turn off
It could be that these are cases where someone has gone awol and the paper is very overdue, so they’re hoping for a quick decision.
I’m thinking of, for example, people saying yes to a review they shouldn’t because they or want the need money.
Or does a one-sentence review get the same remuneration as a thorough one?
In a system where the publishers make huge profits at our expense, we should be looking at addressing the problem not the symptoms.
It’s an interesting conversation! I just don’t know that I want to lean into commodification as a justice model.
When 70% of the faculty doesn't have tenure eligibility, there are only 30% who *can* take time off having to research & write/teach/grade/mentor/serve to also review. (1)
Is the ratio of TT to Precarious better in the sciences than in humanities? (3)
The system needs to either slow down to accommodate, or we need more scientists and higher pay (including for the labor done in reviewing*).
We def aren't getting the second option, so...
*this is mostly for journals that...
I still have issues with it, like as afaik, you're hopefully only asking establish, qualified people in a field to review in the first place.
But it merits creative solutions then if pay.
Work-in-kind is great, but again, everyone seems overextended...
Reviewing manuscripts/grants is part of your job if your job depends on publishing manuscripts and getting grants.
If you're reading this as an ECR and not on it, sign up!
(but I'm aware of the myriad other extra requests for work for non-white-males: it's Catch 22)
https://diversifyeeb.com/
Or perhaps we just stop publishing in for profit journals?
The solution here is not “scientists do more work”
I'm not saying "do more work," I'm saying "do your fair share." There are huge, well-documented labor equity issues (gendered, among others).
To the people reviewing right now: thank you. To the people who suggest reviewers when they can't review: thank you.
We're part of an ecosystem, folks.
I have a mentee who is driving to a different state every weekend to volunteer at a museum to get research experience. And he’s one of the more fortunate.
I imagine this is a way to gatekeep grad school as a thing for the privileged.
What I’m saying is, thanks for your service! (And sorry it’s such a slog)
The nicer ones propose colleagues or write some gentle word.