Shift journal editorial and review practices to reward theoretically integrative work¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 theoretical), q1 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The essay identifies reviewers and journal editors as the most important leverage point for change, since as gatekeepers they determine what is published. It reports the authors' own experience of reviewer bias against multi-theory papers and argues that if editors become open to integration and encourage it in guidelines, reviewers will shift how they assess submissions and authors will be rewarded for integrative work.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Editorial teams of top-tier journals must stop rewarding only papers demonstrating loyalty to a single theoretical camp

Constraints¶

• The essay notes the current zeitgeist in educational psychology strongly discourages cross-theoretical work

Target Learners¶

• journal editors
• peer reviewers
• education researchers

Target Learning Goals¶

• fostering a research culture that values cumulative, cross-theoretical knowledge about motivation

Claims¶

• Fragmentation is caused by researchers themselves via misaligned incentives that favor staying in theoretical camps [+W]

Related Strategies¶

• Balance explanation-focused and prediction-focused methodological strategies in motivation research
• Evaluate motivational theories rigorously on predictive, practical, explanatory, and developmental value before integrating
• Editors and reviewers should reward transparency about limitations so researchers are not incentivized to overstate implications

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Ronnel B. King, Luke K. Fryer. (2024). Hybridizing Motivational Strains: How Integrative Models Are Crucial for Advancing Motivation Science. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09850-9