How to Review for the Journal for Specialists in Group Work (JSGW) Editorial Board Member Basics

Abstract

Although peer review is the cornerstone of scientific and scholarly publication, very few people receive training to do this during their graduate education. The process of peer review involves having others of equal or greater expertise in a subject area critique or comment on work that is submitted to a journal. This process can be blind (i.e., the Associate or Action Editors know identity of the author(s) but the reviewers do not), or “double-blind” (i.e., the author identity is unknown to both the Action or Associate Editor and the reviewers). A manuscript that is peer reviewed is sometimes called “refereed.” The benefit of the process is that, when done well, it creates stronger, clearer publications which contribute to quality in the advancement of knowledge. Peer review is not meant to serve as a barrier to publication, rather it exists to ensure publications in professional journals are the best possible quality and can be disseminated worldwide. Further, none of this can be accomplished without other scholars and practitioners in the field who volunteer to perform this service. Serving as a member of a journal’s editorial review board is one of the most important roles that one can take in a professional association. Reviewers are an integral part of the publication process, supporting the journal in vetting and supporting authors to move manuscripts through the editorial process. Their work is key in ensuring that manuscripts are appropriate to the scope and mission of the journal (and the association it falls within), that the piece has the appropriate depth and breadth to add new knowledge into the field for practice and scholarly knowledge, as well as ensuring that authors write the work in a way that our broad group of readers may be able to understand and integrate the work into whatever their professional areas may be. It is surprising, then, that although we as a field recognize the importance that editorial board membership, and the process they engage in, that little is discussed or trained within graduate schools to prepare individuals to take on this important service. Often times, we find that our members are hesitant to take on these roles because of the little training or attention that editorial board service has previous had in their professional career. More often than not, we have found that most people we have interacted with have taken on these roles because they were “invited” by editorial or professional association leadership due to small review board numbers, and a need to fill slots. Others may feel external pressure to perform this service as a requirement for tenure and promotion. Additionally, these individuals often appear hesitant to take on these roles, due to the little training they have received. However, they do all report recognizing the importance of these roles, as well as an acknowledgment of the thing we often report to our authors: if you want to learn how to better write for a journal, join the review board (as an ad hoc or full editorial board member). The process of reading other persons’ manuscripts, as well as watching the process of seeing manuscripts move through the system, can demystify the process and empower early career scholars to become more effective writers and reviewers. Therefore, THE JOURNAL FOR SPECIALISTS IN GROUP WORK 2022, VOL. 47, NOS. 3–4, 169–175 https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2022.2129940