Is a Dissertation Peer Reviewed?

When thinking about any kind of academic publication, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind relates to peer review. While the practice is not well-understood outside of academic circles–because it doesn’t really need to be–it is highly valued within the academic community. A major goal of all academic publication endeavors is peer review, a scholarly seal of approval that most academics begin pursuing immediately after their dissertation.

So, is a dissertation peer reviewed? The answer is no, but, as with all things academic, the short answer doesn’t tell the whole story. A better answer is “not yet.” There are many dimensions to the academic peer review process–particularly as it relates to dissertations–and it pays to fully understand the process before you pursue it. 

These are a few frequently asked questions related to dissertation peer review: 

• What is peer review?
• What does the peer review process look like?
• Who are peer reviewers?
• When would a dissertation be peer reviewed?

What is Peer Review?

Peer review is the scholarly process by which new research is vetted by established (well-published, often tenured) academics. It is the gold standard for scholarship, and the metric by which all research is judged. Peer review is a rigorous, multi-stage process designed to ensure that only the highest quality research gets published and disseminated to the academic community. 

In short, if it’s not peer reviewed, it doesn’t count. When I was a freshly-minted Ph.D. in my first assistant professorship, I viewed the peer review process with some trepidation, and I wasn’t wrong. For better or worse, peer review is a gatekeeping process that puts even the most seasoned scholars to the test. It’s a crucible, a gauntlet, and not for the faint of heart. But fear not: if you have what it takes to defend your dissertation, peer review is well within your grasp. 

The Peer Review Process

Peer review is a lengthy process with several steps between submission and publication. On average, it takes about 18 months for an article to go through the peer review process and appear in print–sometimes much longer. This can be a nerve-wracking time for academics, though the anxieties of the waiting game can be eased by understanding the different phases of the process and knowing what is happening. 

These are the stages of the peer review process:

• Submission Once research has been completed and the study has been written up (and likely critiqued by colleagues and revised), it gets submitted to an academic journal. Journal submissions happen one at a time, so it’s a good idea to submit to your top choice first. Journals are ranked in tiers, with top tier journals, like Nature or The Journal of American Medicine, being the most competitive to get published in. 
• Evaluation After a manuscript has been submitted, the editor of the publication determines if it meets the basic standards of the journal. If so, the article is forwarded to peer reviewers, who have a few months (that’s right, months) to read and comment on the quality of the manuscript. Manuscripts are reviewed blindly to prevent any sort of bias working for or against the author. 
• Decision Undergoing the peer review process does not automatically mean publication. Peer reviewers have a few options when it comes to recommending a manuscript for publication: Accept, Accept with Revision, Revise and Re-Submit, or Reject. The editor then evaluates the comments from each of the peer reviewers–usually two or three–and makes a final decision. 
• Publication Accepted articles go through an additional editorial process if significant changes have been requested, as well as line edits, proofreading, and a final polish prior to publication. Like I said, it’s a journey. 

Who are peer reviewers? 

Peer reviewers are scholars and academics who are generally considered to be outstanding in their field. They are likely to be ranked faculty members at their institutions (universities, institutes, hospitals, etc.) who have been awarded professional distinctions that may include grants, prizes, fellowships, and multiple publications. 

Peer reviewers are experts in their field, and have more than likely published in the journal you have submitted to. At one point, they may have also held a position on the editorial board. Regardless, they are recognized authorities in their field, and they have a vested interest in promoting dynamic and high-quality scholarship. 

There is a running joke in the academic world about our greatest villain, Reviewer 2. Hundreds of memes run wild about the inhumanity of Reviewer 2, who gets blamed for every arch comment, every deleted page, and every “Reject” or “Revise and Re-Submit” decision handed down by every journal in every field. If you’re not thrilled with the peer review comments you receive, feel free to blame Reviewer 2. The rest of us do. 

When Would a Dissertation Be Peer Reviewed?

Dissertations do not get published in academic journals, though they are occasionally expanded and published as academic monographs, usually by university presses. This is rare, but it is a great opportunity when it happens. A scholarly monograph is not to be confused with the bound, printed, and catalogued copies of dissertations. Yes, you can sometimes buy a beautiful copy of your dissertation on Amazon at an exorbitant price (my parents have two!), but that is not a peer reviewed publication. 

More commonly, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, dissertation research is broken down and revised into two or three articles to be submitted at separate journals for publication. For many academics, their first peer reviewed publications are born from their dissertation research. My first two peer reviewed articles both came from my dissertation research, and having that work already done really helped me hit the ground running with my scholarship during my busy, overwhelming first year as an assistant professor. 

While dissertations are not peer reviewed, they are expected to be written to withstand that level of scrutiny. A dissertation–which does get reviewed by a panel of experts in the form of your dissertation committee and chair–is the ultimate training exercise for a life of academic scholarship and contributions to the body of knowledge. Once you have completed and successfully defended your dissertation, you are well-prepared to enter the fray of academic scholarship.