Peer reviewed

Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World, August, 2003 by Carroll Goering, Randall Reeder

Are there any two more important words in describing Transactions of the ASAE, Applied Engineering in Agriculture, and the Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health? "Peer reviewed" is what places these journals on a higher plane than information on the Web, in magazines, on television, or lately, in The New York Times. It means the reader can be assured that information has been checked by experts. Peer review eliminates inferior and improves accepted articles. Everyone benefits.

Randall: Hold on a minute, Carroll. If everybody knows peer-reviewed articles are important, why did ASAE ask us to write a whole page on the topic?

Carroll: Because it's getting harder to find reviewers.

Randall: Reviewers are an endangered species? If they're essential critters, why the pending extinction?

Carroll: We don't want them to become extinct. If you read ASAE publications, consider how the value of articles would be changed if no peer review. Not only would you have less certainty about the technical content, many articles would be wordy and difficult to read. If you publish in ASAE journals, consider how peer review benefits you. In a university setting, a peer-reviewed article carries greater prestige. The peer review process improves the quality of the article and the pride of authorship. While industry authors may not derive direct financial benefit, they do gain recognition and respect from their peers.

Randall: If authors and readers all gain from peerreview, why would there ever be a shortage of reviewers?

Carroll: A lot of potential reviewers think the system is working fine without their help.

Randall: If David Letterman wrote a Top Ten list of excuses for us, l think this would be #1: "I'm so busy writing articles, 1 don't have time to review any."

Carroll: That's like the fellow who was so busy chopping wood he couldn't take time to sharpen the axe.

Randall: One group that is apprehensive about reviewing includes new engineers and grad students. I encourage them to volunteer. Lack of experience or wisdom will not hurt the process when someone is one of three reviewers. Reviewing others' writing can help them develop their own talents. They often know more about the latest in computer modeling and statistics than some of us older folks. And, if they are assigned an article that doesn't fit their expertise, they can simply decline and wait for another opportunity.

Carroll: Retirees are another valuable group. Being apeer reviewer is a great way to keep up-to-date on technology in your field. And it is a good way to pay it forward. Give authors the benefit of your accumulated knowledge.

Randall: And if everyone in between volunteers, we would have this problem licked.

Carroll: So if you are asked to review, it will be a great help to ASAE and the authors if you complete the review in a timely manner, or immediately decline.

Randall: And, if you are not asked, you can contact the chair of the ASAE Refereed Publications Committee (P-511) to indicate your area of expertise and your willingness to be a peer reviewer. The chair will pass your information on to the appropriate editor. You know, Carroll, by the time folks get to the end of this inspiring article, that P-511 guy should be flooded with calls.

Carroll: Let's hope so. Regardless of whether you volunteer or are chosen, serving as a peer reviewer is an obvious recognition of your expertise. And you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you're improving the literature of your profession. Supervisors can help too. If your organization uses peer-reviewed information, encourage your employees to become peer reviewers. In conducting peer reviews, they get an advanced look at new research and technologies before the information is published and widely available.

Randall: Like any good salesman, we have saved a real deal-closer 'til last.

Carroll: ASAE is making the peer-review process easier. Later this year we'll have a Web-based peer-review system. The system will allow authors to submit manuscripts to a Web database. Associate editors will be able to select reviewers from the database and automate the communication process. Reviewers will be able to download the assigned manuscript and provide their comments online or fax a marked up paper copy. Tracking tools will assist in helping to expedite the process.

Randall: Does that mean an author could submit an article on a Monday, and maybe have an approved, peer-reviewed publication by Tuesday night?

Carroll: Yes, I guess so, if it was well written, and a reviewer did not put it off till Christmas break.

Randall: Are we done? I want to get back to reading Hillary's memoirs.

Carroll: Is her book peer reviewed'?

Carroll Goering is professor emeritus, University of Illinois, 2606 Highcross Road, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; 217 333-9420, fax 217244-0323, cgoering@staff.unic.edu. Randall Reeder, P.E., is associate professor and extension agricultural engineer, The Ohio State University, 590 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA," 6114-292-6648, fax 614-292-9448, reeder1@osu.edu. Both are past chairs of the ASAE Publications Council.