The Peer Review Process as Performance Art

Mary Ann NaumannResearch & Reference LibrarianPepperdine University Libraries

Peer Review Play

• What my hack is• How you can do it too• What I’ve learned so far

Two interests collide …

… or perhaps happily

converge

Open Peer Review

• Reviewers' names are included on the peer review reports

• If the manuscript is published, the reports are made available online along with the final version of the manuscript

BioMed Central’s Definition

Reviewer Delia West’s Comments

The Peer Review Play Hacks Three Things:

• Repurposes something freely available (the article, reviewers’ comments, authors’ responses) into a unique teaching tool

• Shifts the tempo of my class • Changes up my and my students’ roles in the

class

Creating a Peer Review Play

• Find an open access, open peer review article (try BioMed Central and BMJ Open)

• Print out copies of the abstract, reviewers’ comments, and authors’ responses

• Consider what commentary you, as the narrator, would like to interject during the play

• Highlight and number the printouts to create a script• Research the authors and reviewers to create mini-bios for

use as introductions to your play• Create a PowerPoint presentation with images from the

script so the audience can easily follow along

Performance of the Peer Review Play

• Solicit volunteers from class to form your cast• Provide a brief description of what your play is

about and what your cast will be doing• Introduce the characters (using bios with an

emphasis on credentials)• Let the action begin!• Follow play with discussion of what has been

learned

What I’ve Learned So Far

It’s fun!

Students got it & were engaged

Unexpected & insightful student comments and questions

For more information and links to resources:infoguides.pepperdine.edu/peer-review-play