Is Open Peer Review the Future of Refereeing? A Narrative Review

Abstract

Refereeing is the nutshell of peer review and with the advancement of technology there are a lot a new innovations made in refereeing process. Open peer review is one of the latest advancements in the field of refereeing where it contradicts the traditional refereeing system which kept the reviewer anonymous from the author; against the new method of open peer review where the reviewer’s identity is reveled to the author and also the rest of the world. This study tries to find out the scope of this open peer review in the near future by critically reviewing the existing literature using a narrative review approach. The discussions show that the major criticism under the traditional refereeing system was taken over by the open peer review as it reduces bias, enhances the transparency and reliability on the refereeing process. They make the reviewers accountable for the acceptance of articles for scholarly publications.

Keywords: Open Peer Review, Refereeing, Blind Review