Join Visiting Scholar Philip N. Cohen, Ph.D., for a lunchtime discussion around the Peer Review process. 

Specifically noted from his abstract, “Contemporary journal peer review is beset by a range of problems. These include (a) long delay times to publication, during which time research is inaccessible; (b) weak incentives to conduct reviews, resulting in high refusal rates as the pace of journal publication increases; (c) quality control problems that produce both errors of commission (accepting erroneous work) and omission (passing over important work, especially null findings); (d) unknown levels of bias, affecting both who is asked to perform peer review and how reviewers treat authors, and; (e) opacity in the process that impedes error correction and more systematic learning, and enables conflicts of interest to pass undetected. Proposed alternative practices attempt to address these concerns -- especially open peer review, and post-publication peer review. However, systemic solutions will require revisiting the functions of peer review in its institutional context.”

Please note: If you do not have an MIT ID, this location requires an RSVP to infosciencebrownbag [at] mit dot edu a minimum of 48 hours in advance of the event and a photo ID to sign into the building upon arrival. Please allow time to sign in with security and to proceed to the 6th floor conference room before the start of the discussion.