Peer review as a delineation criterion in data sources for the assessment and measurement of scholarly book publishing in social sciences and humanities

This research in progress paper presents current research on the different approaches to the definition, documentation and application of peer review processes to scholarly books and book publishers. The documentation concerning how peer reviewed scholarly books are considered in the Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Flemish and Spanish evaluation systems and national CRIS(s) has been analyzed and juxtaposed. The synthesis of the documentation includes the distinctive features of each definition of scholarly book's peer review. Inclusion or exclusion of the evaluation system as well as the weight given to peer and non peer-reviewed scholarly books are also analyzed. The existence of a common denominator to all systems seems plausible and would facilitate an eventual aggregation of different information systems. Such common denominator might be defined as the least number of common features across the different countries concerning how peer review in scholarly books is considered in their evaluation systems. Nevertheless, that common denominator might be more clearly identified once more evaluation systems are analyzed as per extracting general conclusions. This would entail coordination among researchers and transparency by publishers. It is concluded that peer review of scholarly books is a highly relevant feature of scholarly output; also, the need of basic research on scholarly books' peer review practices becomes clear from the diversity of approaches observed. Further research would involve quantitative analysis of peer-reviewed publishers in the different countries.