Chinese Researchers’ Orientation Toward Peer Review Through the Lens of Engagement

Peer review plays a critical role in improving the quality of the manuscripts under review and the dissemination of academic knowledge. Previous research on peer review has largely focused on review reports—i.e., the products of peer review—while less attention has been paid to researchers’ orientations toward the review process. This study examines peer review orientation through the lens of engagement, focusing on 16 Chinese researchers’ engagement with conducting peer reviews. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews exploring the researchers’ experiences. Analysis revealed that participants engaged with peer review cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally, fostering dialogues with the self, the authors, and the academic community. These interactions transformed the peer review process into a dynamic, social, and relational space in which the participants developed as peer reviewers. The paper concludes with a critical reflection on its limitations and proposes directions for future research on researchers’ orientation toward peer review in the context of global knowledge production and dissemination.