TY - JOUR
T1 - Peer review and preprint policies are unclear at most major journals
AU - Klebel, Thomas
AU - Reichmann, Stefan Egon
AU - Polka, Jessica
AU - McDowell, Gary
AU - Penfold, Naomi
AU - Hindle, Samantha
AU - Ross-Hellauer, Tony
PY - 2020/10/21
Y1 - 2020/10/21
N2 - Clear and findable publishing policies are important for authors to choose appropriate journals for publication. We investigated the clarity of policies of 171 major academic journals across disciplines regarding peer review and preprinting. 31.6% of journals surveyed do not provide information on the type of peer review they use. Information on whether preprints can be posted or not is unclear in 39.2% of journals. 58.5% of journals offer no clear information on whether reviewer identities are revealed to authors. Around 75% of journals have no clear policy on co-reviewing, citation of preprints, and publication of reviewer identities. Information regarding practices of open peer review is even more scarce, with <20% of journals providing clear information. Having found a lack of clear information, we conclude by examining the implications this has for researchers (especially early career) and the spread of open research practices.
AB - Clear and findable publishing policies are important for authors to choose appropriate journals for publication. We investigated the clarity of policies of 171 major academic journals across disciplines regarding peer review and preprinting. 31.6% of journals surveyed do not provide information on the type of peer review they use. Information on whether preprints can be posted or not is unclear in 39.2% of journals. 58.5% of journals offer no clear information on whether reviewer identities are revealed to authors. Around 75% of journals have no clear policy on co-reviewing, citation of preprints, and publication of reviewer identities. Information regarding practices of open peer review is even more scarce, with <20% of journals providing clear information. Having found a lack of clear information, we conclude by examining the implications this has for researchers (especially early career) and the spread of open research practices.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85094179021&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239518
DO - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239518
M3 - Review article
VL - 15
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 10
M1 - e0239518
ER -