01653nas a2200229   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002260001500043653000900058653001400067653002800081100001800109700002400127700001400151700001800165245002400183856006200207300000900269490000700278520112400285022001401409       2012                            d  c2012-12-1010abias10areviewing10ascholarly communication1 aCarole J. Lee1 aCassidy R. Sugimoto1 aGuo Zhang1 aBlaise Cronin00aBias in peer review  uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/asi.22784  a2-170 v643 aResearch on bias in peer review examines scholarly communication and funding processes to assess the epistemic and social legitimacy of the mechanisms by which knowledge communities vet and self-regulate their work. Despite vocal concerns, a closer look at the empirical and methodological limitations of research on bias raises questions about the existence and extent of many hypothesized forms of bias. In addition, the notion of bias is predicated on an implicit ideal that, once articulated, raises questions about the normative implications of research on bias in peer review. This review provides a brief description of the function, history, and scope of peer review; articulates and critiques the conception of bias unifying research on bias in peer review; characterizes and examines the empirical, methodological, and normative claims of bias in peer review research; and assesses possible alternatives to the status quo. We close by identifying ways to expand conceptions and studies of bias to contend with the complexity of social interactions among actors involved directly and indirectly in peer review.  a1532-2890