Research Article: “Unprofessional Peer Reviews Disproportionately Harm Underrepresented Groups in STEM”

The research article and the media coverage of it linked to below were published today by PeerJ and Science.

Title

Peer Reviews Disproportionately Harm Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Authors

Nyssa J. Silbiger
California State University, Northridge

Amber D. Stubler
Occidental College

Source

PeerJ 7:e8247
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8247

Abstract

Background

Peer reviewed research is paramount to the advancement of science. Ideally, the peer review process is an unbiased, fair assessment of the scientific merit and credibility of a study; however, well-documented biases arise in all methods of peer review. Systemic biases have been shown to directly impact the outcomes of peer review, yet little is known about the downstream impacts of unprofessional reviewer comments that are shared with authors.

Methods

In an anonymous survey of international participants in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, we investigated the pervasiveness and author perceptions of long-term implications of receiving of unprofessional comments. Specifically, we assessed authors’ perceptions of scientific aptitude, productivity, and career trajectory after receiving an unprofessional peer review.

Results

We show that survey respondents across four intersecting categories of gender and race/ethnicity received unprofessional peer review comments equally. However, traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM fields were most likely to perceive negative impacts on scientific aptitude, productivity, and career advancement after receiving an unprofessional peer review.

Discussion

Studies show that a negative perception of aptitude leads to lowered self-confidence, short-term disruptions in success and productivity and delays in career advancement. Therefore, our results indicate that unprofessional reviews likely have and will continue to perpetuate the gap in STEM fields for traditionally underrepresented groups in the sciences.

Direct to Full Text Article

Media Coverage

Rude Paper Reviews are Pervasive and Sometimes Harmful, Study Finds (via Science)

Filed under: Journal Articles, News, Productivity, Reports