We touched on this issue a few years ago (and Prof. Cohen reported a dramatic change in referee behavior shortly thereafter), but it is apparently time for another friendly reminder of how important it is for solicited referees to suggest alternates when they can't do the job. Stewart Cohen (Arizona), the editor of Philosophical Studies, writes:
At Phil Studies, it is not uncommon for 5 or 6 (or more) people to decline invitations to review prior to someone accepting. I assume the same is true for other journals. Given that there can be a one or two week turnaround time, the process of finding a referee can add considerably to the time from submission to decision. Of course we understand that people have good reasons for declining. But it would be of great assistance to us (and I assume to other journals) if people who decline would make some recommendations for alternative reviewers. The people we ask to referee are experts on the specific topic of the paper under consideration and so presumably in a good position to help us find other experts. While many do this, a significant number do not. We all have an interest in supporting journals in their efforts to provide authors with timely decisions on their submissions. So next time you decline to review a paper for a journal, I strongly urge you to help out by providing some recommendations for reviewers.
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