To Name or Not to Name: The Effect of Changing Author Gender on Peer Review
Publication type
journal article
Publication date
2009
Author(s)
Source
Language
English
View point(s)
Peer Review System
PhD Level
Discipline(s)
Abstract
The peer review model is one of the most important tools used in science to assess the relative merit of research. We manipulated a published article to reflect one of the following four author designations: female, male, initial, and no name provided. This article was then reviewed by referees of both genders at various stages of scientific training. Name changing did not influence acceptance rates or quality ratings. Undergraduate referees were less critical than graduate students or postdoctoral researchers, independent of gender. However, female postdoctoral researchers were the most critical referees: Their rejection rates were the highest and quality ratings the lowest, regardless of the author name provided. Contrary to previous reports in the literature, there was no evidence of same-gender preferences. This study strongly suggests that female postgraduate biologists may apply different expectations to peer review.
Journal
BioScience
ISSN
0006-3568
Volume
59
Issue
11
Pagination
985-989