10578: Mastering the Developmental Review Process for Empirical OSCM Research

The goal of this PDW is to develop skillsets in the pursuit of developmental reviews for OSCM research. Specifically, we begin with the premise that the importance of a reviewer, and in many journals that of roles such as AE, resides in an ability to provide constructive and cultivating feedback, rather than serving as a decision-maker/gatekeeper; the latter roles being often taken on by EiC(s) and other higher level editorial positions. Focus is therefore on the ability to provide a developmental review, with ‘developmental’ defined by the identification of opportunities to significantly advance the research towards publication in the journal of interest, outside of a given review cycle, or even in another outlet. That in turn requires an understanding of what a journal expects, both broadly, and in each of the key elements that comprise a study: motivation, grounding in observation and literature, theoretical argument development, selection and execution of data collection and analysis, and discussion of implications for the academy and practice/policy, posteriori theoretical argumentation and limitations. In this PDW, we will discuss how to approach each of these elements in a developmental manner, what to focus on, how to avoid prescribing (e.g., HARK-ing traps), and how to structure reviews with both a targeted and holistic vision. Participants will gain a joint understanding of the value of developmental reviews and their individual roles supporting that development, with natural implications for their own professional growth and benefit of the wider community.