What roles might automation play in the future of public administration journal peer review processes?

Abstract

Publishing in journals is crucial in the creation of knowledge within the public administration field and the career advancements of individuals. Each year, more articles enter journal publishing systems, and it is becoming more difficult and time consuming for editors to secure reviewers. A range of technological applications have been developed that apply automation techniques to various aspects of the peer review process and these are explored in this paper. We find some potentially promising applications in terms of assessing aspects of quality and in identifying potential reviewers. The replacement of humans in review processes is less clear cut and there are dangers in exacerbating inequities within the field. The value of peer review is particularly important for early career researchers and building a community of scholarship in the public administration field. It is crucial we recognise this and do not lose positives of peer review processes to address some of the issues currently experienced.

Points for practitioners

• Academic journals help create knowledge within the field of public administration and play a role in career advancement of individual academics. Yet, there are a number of well-established challenges with peer review processes.
• Recent advancements in technologies such as Artificial Intelligence offer the potential to automate some processes associated with peer review.
• Several automation processes are already available and in use around some areas of peer review processes and these are explored in this paper.
• But it is unlikely that automation will replace humans in peer review processes, and it is important that the public administration community revisits the importance of these processes and considers how these are valued and rewarded.