Statistical Review Board Shared Across Journals Portfolio

Statistical methods in epidemiology, genetics, machine learning, and other fields overlapping with nutrition research are evolving rapidly. The editors for the American Society for Nutrition’s (ASN) 4 journals found that statisticians’ expertise was often outdated or unavailable on the peer review platform. Statisticians also appeared to decline review invitations or submit late reviews at a higher rate than other reviewers. To increase ASN editors’ access to qualified statistical reviewers, a shared, paid Statistical Review Board (SRB) was created.

Applicants were recruited beginning in September 2018 based on Editorial Board recommendations and self-identified expertise of existing authors and reviewers. Criteria across ASN’s journals were established for when an SRB review was required compared with recommended. In July 2019, 18 SRB members were appointed for a pilot term of 1-year and paid at the same rate as Associate Editors. After 1 year, ASN’s Board of Directors approved making the SRB permanent based on editor feedback and financial data. ASN editors renewed a subset of the SRB members based on number of manuscripts reviewed, compliance with deadlines, and Editorial Board feedback.

This poster will report data on SRB performance. It will also include qualifications and fields of SRB members, methods to establish uniform expectations for reviews, management of payments and workload, as well as author and editor feedback. This poster will be a mixed-learning poster appropriate for editors, society staff, and publishers.