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So why do scholars sit on almost finished manuscripts instead of submitting them? And what does that tell us about the peer review evaluation system... A serious subthread to yesterday’s light hearted comment.
Essentially, we don’t submit because of some combination of lack of time and imposter syndrome.
The job market & tenure & promotion are powerful motivators against these 2 hurdles (no time/no good) but at the cost of intense angst and pain over prioritizing work above all else and making one vulnerable to often unduly harsh criticism from reviewers. Yes, you, reviewer 2...
So too often without the urgency of these 
scholars protect themselves by not submitting. Voices are lost whose point of view would enrich our collective conversations. And careers stall in particular of those most vulnerable to service overburden & biased reviews #women #BIPOC
scholars protect themselves by not submitting. Voices are lost whose point of view would enrich our collective conversations. And careers stall in particular of those most vulnerable to service overburden & biased reviews #women #BIPOC
So, really, why don’t we submit our 90% done articles? Because the peer review system is (overall) judgmental rather than evaluative, hierarchical rather than collaborative, biased rather than inclusive. It is worse for some, but bad for all.
As a reviewer and reviewee my wishes are that the process be cordial, constructive, transparent, respectful, NOT anonymous, strongly mediated by rigorous editors. Because academic article submissions should have room to grow when put in conversation with other scholars.
If in submitting an article, the goal is to be accepted without revisions, it is an immense loss of opportunity for scholarly engagement, dialogue, and broadened horizons. The system seeks affirmation when it should offer constructive challenge.
Without the stark 
or 
structure, ghosting, delays, every scholars, not only the most established and secure thinkers, instead of feeling exposed and powerless in submitting could look forward to launching their ideas into the world and seeing them grow. It takes a village.
or structure, ghosting, delays, every scholars, not only the most established and secure thinkers, instead of feeling exposed and powerless in submitting could look forward to launching their ideas into the world and seeing them grow. It takes a village.
I have had both good (lifting) and bad (horrendous) experiences with peer reviews. So it can be done. And yet...
