Benefits of OPEN peer review model

The Internet has enabled a totally new business model, Open Access (OA), in which an article is openly available in full text for anyone with Internet access [1].

The open research movement aims to enhance the transparency and accessibility of research and its associated data. This initiative has led to significant positive changes, including the widespread adoption of principles such as open access, open data, open infrastructure, and open research practices within the scientific community.

As part of this commitment to transparency, there’s a growing recognition of the importance of embracing open peer review. This process, which has gained traction in recent years, is pivotal in ensuring the integrity and credibility of scholarly outputs. Many scientific publishers are acknowledging the benefits of open peer review and are actively exploring its implementation as a means to assess the quality and authenticity of manuscript submissions.

The integration of peer review in repositories will enable direct and transparent academic collaboration between authors and reviewers [2].

Read More: Top Open Peer-Reviewed Journals

Open peer review offers numerous potential advantages over traditional peer review, benefiting both authors and reviewers alike. This approach often results in enhanced quality and timeliness of feedback since reviewers are held to greater accountability, and authors have the opportunity to engage directly with critiques. Moreover, open peer review has the potential to mitigate bias and conflicts of interest, along with addressing the inherent power dynamics between reviewers and authors.

Furthermore, embracing open peer review can cultivate a culture of collaboration and constructive peer feedback within the scholarly community. It bolsters transparency and reproducibility in research practices, thereby strengthening the credibility of scientific findings. Additionally, this model elevates the recognition and reward for reviewers, as their contributions become visible and citable, acknowledging their invaluable role in the scholarly publishing process.

The Open Peer Review (OPR) model offers several advantages that contribute to the evolution of scholarly communication:

1. Transparency and Accountability:
   • In OPR, reviewers’ identities are disclosed, fostering transparency.
   • Authors and readers can see who evaluated the work, enhancing accountability.
2. Enhanced Constructive Feedback:
   • OPR motivates reviewers to provide detailed insights.
   • The visibility of their contributions encourages thorough and constructive feedback.
3. Strengthened Credibility and Trustworthiness:
   • Transparency is crucial for credibility.
   • Published peer review content helps contextualize research, giving readers additional expert opinions.
   • Understanding the questions raised by reviewers and how authors addressed them provides insight into the study’s limitations.
4. Enriching the Scientific Record:
   • Published peer review history becomes a permanent part of the scientific record.
   • Readers benefit from additional expert perspectives, gaining a deeper understanding of the research.

The adoption of the Open Peer Review (OPR) system marks a significant advancement in the scientific community’s pursuit of open science principles. By prioritizing the core objectives that underpin OPR, we can develop an optimal strategy for its implementation.

Effective implementation of open peer review necessitates collaboration among authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers. Together, they must work to design and implement systems that cater to the needs of all stakeholders involved, ensuring the success and sustainability of the OPR process.

References

1. Björk, B. C. (2017). Open access to scientific articles: a review of benefits and challenges. Internal and emergency medicine, 12(2), 247-253.
2. Perakakis, P., Ponsati, A., Bernal, I., Mosquera-de-Arancibia, C., Sierra, C., Osman, N., & Lorenzo-Gil, E. (2016). Open Peer Review Module (OPRM). Final Report. Sede Central IEO.