Learned Publishing (LP) has achieved a double first with the January 2016 issue: this is the first regular issue that we have themed and it focuses on the topic of peer review. This is also the first issue we have published with Wiley. As announced last year, we have made the decision to partner with Wiley to contract-publish LP on behalf of ALPSP starting 2016. Remember that access is free for all ALPSP members, from the Learned Publishing area

So what content can you expect in this issue? We have articles looking at systems, quality, behaviour and motivations, and plus an excellent overview article from Michael Jubb provides a resource guide to the current landscape. Other articles look at why reviewers decline, how reviewer reports are assessed, how the system is managed, and whether Chinese researchers have a different opinion of the validity of peer reviewed content compared to western researchers. A preliminary investigation provides food for thought regarding the impact of articles published in megajournals operating a “minimal” review system. Two articles looking at reviewer reward and motivation, and reporting on the recent ORCID reviewer recognition programme. And we also have a couple of provocative opinion pieces questioning the importance and philosophy behind reviewing.

Pippa
Pippa Smart
Editor-in-Chief, Learned Publishing
editor@alpsp.org