Science publishers partner with a COST Action to share data and improve peer review

Together with researchers in COST Action New Frontiers of Peer Review - PEERE, Elsevier, Springer Nature and Wiley have agreed on a protocol that enables peer review data sharing in a journal sample. This collaboration is meant to improve the quality, efficiency and sustainability of scholarly peer review.

The protocol aims to regulate data sharing among PEERE members, by addressing important issues such as anonymisation, privacy and data management. It is also intended as a standard for future initiatives, at the same time encouraging other publishers, funding agencies or scientific associations to collaborate with academics to share data, while protecting the interests of all parties involved (i.e., authors, reviewers, editors and the research community). 

 “Peer review is far too important to be left to individual journals to experiment on.  We need robust evidence on what is working and what is not in different domains, and to understand the implications of recent models developed through systematic studies. We must also acknowledge the value of evidence-based, scientific approaches to reform and avoid ideological stances coming from peer review enthusiasts or detractors”, added network leader Prof. Flaminio Squazzoni at the University of Brescia in Italy.

The large-scale initiative, which has seen three global publishers work side-by-side, is part of a COST-funded network that includes about 130 academics and professionals. Network PEERE is working towards a systematic analysis of peer review by integrating different disciplines, approaches and methods. It also aims to improve the peer review management by stimulating the development of tools for selecting and rewarding reviewers and by detecting bias that can sustain the quality and sustainability process. 

To learn more, visit www.peere.org or contact PEERE at [email protected]