Peer review is a vital element of the scholarly system, central to academic publication, funding awards, institutional research assessment, and many conferences. It exists in many forms, with evaluative criteria and practical processes subject to wide variation and evolution. Understanding peer review is important for an academic career, in the course of which researchers can expect to find themselves on both sides of the process, subject to others' expert scrutiny and consulted for their own.
This introductory workshop is designed to de-mystify peer review in the arts and humanities, examining it in a broad context, and analysing and developing the necessary critical skills. It highlights the reviewer's ethical responsibilities, and offers a range of practical guidance on the principles and standards involved in making a constructive contribution to the advancement of others' research and the integrity of the discipline.
This workshop has previously been used to train the editorial board of CHASE's Brief Encounters journal.
What researchers from CHASE universities have said about this workshop:
‘Josie was brilliant – gave so much insight into current changes in HE and publishing. Absolutely invaluable.’
‘I greatly appreciated the content, but also the passion of the workshop leader. I commend and highly respect her expertise and the skill in transferring knowledge. The exercises were well balanced and also proved highly relevant to communicating the point. Well worth the time, and sure to leave you with a feeling of more optimism and enthusiasm about peer-reviewing and journal publishing.’
Sussex
‘An incredibly helpful workshop – professional and clear’
'A comprehensive guide to the process of peer review. Very informative and well-structured. Excellent delivery – very interesting and engaging.’
‘Really interesting and easy to follow. Broad overview with valuable detail, how-to knowledge and good exercises to try out on the spot.’
‘Really well suited – thorough and expert. Great style! Has made me much more confident in this area.’
‘Excellent delivery and structure. Thorough and wide-ranging introduction to peer-review in tis various forms, including helpful specific advice on the process.’
UEA
‘Really relevant to my needs. Insights into the publishing world were particularly useful; the scope of peer review and its relation to the current research funding were emphasized well. Strong delivery style, clear and concise, open to questions and comprehensive in her answers.’
‘Excellent presentation, clearly grounded in a wealth of experience and expertise. Probably one of the best trainings I’ve ever attended.’
‘Perfect’
‘An excellent workshop that explores the wider relevance of the academic culture of peer review, the ethical considerations, the different models and implications of the system, and how to practise it professionally’
‘Really great workshop for learning about the peer review process – how it works and how to do it.’
Kent
'Thank you once again for such a fantastic training day. I really enjoyed it and really appreciated the way you paced the delivery of the content along the exercises we carried out in pairs. I found particularly helpful the task we carried out on the abstracts review process. I particularly enjoyed the way you covered peer review from its historical context to its future while explaining very clearly and in a very accessible language all aspects of its process. I left the training feeling substantially more confident about my future peer review opportunities, thanks also to the handouts. Thank you also for sharing so generously so many insights connected to your editorial/publishing knowledge.'
‘Absolutely recommended. Very engaging, encouraging, and obviously very well informed on the subject – excellent!’
‘Perfectly tailored to suit the needs of the group. An excellent, informative workshop for anyone who is planning to undertake peer review, or with an interest in publishing’
Goldsmith's
‘A useful introduction to the history and problematics of peer reviewing. Extremely useful content on the future of journal publishing in the digital age.’
Courtauld Institute
‘Very good and lively presentation and good spread of exercises during the day. A clear introduction to the ethical issues and current developments in peer review and academic publishing, with useful practical advice.’
Register here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/chasedtp/t-jzyokka