cleonid comments on Does blind review slow down science? - Less Wrong

20 Post author: Kaj_Sotala 06 March 2009 12:35PM

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Comment author: billswift 06 March 2009 04:25:52PM *  1 point [-]

First I should state that I disagree with anonymous review for the same reasons that I disagree with an unaccountable judiciary - the negative effects on responsibility.

However, there are several problems with the theory in this essay - the most important being that the editors know who the writer or researcher is and can decide to go ahead and publish on that score no matter what the reviewers say. The editors have a strong incentive to advance novel but true theories in that it will advance the reputation of the journal.

Comment author: cleonid 06 March 2009 07:42:11PM 3 points [-]

If reviewers anonymity is abolished, how many would dare to submit a negative review, knowing that eventually their own work might be refereed by the author?