The ins and outs of peer review in academic journal publishing

Abstract

External peer review, in any of its forms (double–blind, single–blind, or open), has become so central to academic journals that the value of such publications is often thought to reside primarily in their role as a mechanism for quality control and vali­dation of scientific knowledge. While the importance of peer review is undeniable, in this essay–written from an editorial standpoint–I aim to reflect on the need to make visible other ways in which journals, throughout the entire editorial process, safeguard the quality of what they publish. I also seek to highlight the relevance of editorial work in ensuring that peer review is conducted rigorously and ethically, which in turn provides editors with more reliable elements for making editorial decisions, while also contributing to the improvement of the published texts. I con­clude with some reflections on the challenges editors face in peer review processes and the guidelines that may help them address these challenges.