The More You Know: The Impact of Publication and Peer-Review Experience on Psychology Graduate Students

摘要

The New School Psychology Bulletin (NSPB) is a peer-reviewed journal operated by clinical psychology graduate students. Fortyfour members of the editorial board and 27 authors were surveyed before and after working with NSPB. Results of the survey demonstrated that experience with the publication process resulted in quantitative decreases in confidence, proficiency, and interest in publishing in the future. Despite these drops, respondents reported that NSPB was relevant and effective training, and they rated NSPB and their experience favorably. They also reported that it provided them with unique gains not available in their training programs. A follow-up study 2 months after termination explored the decreases in confidence, proficiency, and interest. Qualitative data suggest that after working with NSPB, about half of respondents felt more optimistic about the publication process, with the remaining half feeling less optimistic, experiencing no change, or reporting a mixed perception (e.g., feeling less confident but believing that they had a more realistic perspective). Taken together, the data suggest that early experience with publication and peer review disparately affects students' attitudes toward publishing.