Peer Evaluation and Selection Systems: Adaptation and Maladaptation of Individuals and Groups Through Peer Review

 Humans tend to judge each other, often spontaneously and effortlessly, but also formally and deliberately. The author argues that this process of peer evaluation, or peer review, developed as a result of natural selection and offers adaptive benefits to individuals and communities. However, the peer review process is also stochastic, is based on assumptions, and relies on surrogate measures of success. As a result, particular instances of peer review may be non-adaptive or maladaptive. Another limitation of peer review is that it is useless in the face of novelty. Although peer review, in a broad sense, is critical to the success of human societies, the meaning of peer review is often overly simplified and misunderstood, its results overvalued, and its outcomes misinterpreted - causing much turmoil and frustration. The individuals who participate in a peer review process, especially those rejected by peers, as well as organizations that utilize peer review for decision making, will benefit from the insights proposed in this book.