Studies investigating the refusal rates of peer reviewing in journals

[JZUS]

Dear Dr. Gemma Derrick,

We did a rought investigation about this topic. Yes, since Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE started the international peer review, it has been almost for 7 years. You can visit our website to see more information about the international reviewers list ( http://www.zju.edu.cn/jzus/reviewer.php ) that will show you much more interesting information .
First of all,  we have to suppose the referee received the invitation letter, in this condition, at the early three years (2003-2005), the refusal rates was about 70%; However since 2005, the refusal rates was reduced to about 40%; which meand our journal's referees accepting review invitation rate is just  increasing year by year.
Of course, we have to admit the refusal rates still keep at about 25%, and we analysed the reasons are:

1. They are busy without time for the peer reviewing, but they will answer the editor, and recommend others;
2. They are not intersting in our journals or papers, and they usually did not answer anything (about 8 % since  2008)
3. They are not familiar to this thin topic even though they are in this area,but they will answer the editor   or recommend others;

Of course, we are collecting the detail data from our EM systerm and keeped record from JZUS(A/B/C),maybe someday, we will publish the research report.

Thanks for your attention to the rough analysis, and also welcome your all visit our journals website (http://www.zju.edu.cn/jzus ) for more information, thanks.
   
Sincerely,
Helen ZHANG, Managing Editor of JZUS(A/B/C)
http://www.zju.edu.cn/jzus
http://www.springerlink.com
+86-571-87952276 				
2010-06-10

======= 2010-06-10 09:35:00 You wrote in your mail:=======

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>Dear All,
>
> 
>
>We are wondering if someone would be able to help us locate a reference
>regarding the refusal rates in peer reviewing in journals, or in other
>words, how many potential reviewers decline the invitation to review a
>paper or a research proposal.
>
> 
>
>Does anyone know of a study that investigated this?
>
> 
>
>Looking forward to your replies.
>
> 
>
>Kind regards,
>
>Gjemma
>
> 
>
>Gjemma Derrick| BSc (Hons) MSc PhD (ANU)
>Sydney Medical School | School of Public Health
>The University of Sydney
>Room 226a Edward Ford Building A27 | The University of Sydney | NSW |
>2006
>T + 61 2 9114 1226 | F + 61 2 9351 7420 | M + 61 421 343 536 
>E gjemma.derrick at sydney.edu.au  | W http://www.health.usyd.edu.au
><http://www.health.usyd.edu.au/> 
>
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