Why did the Royal Society of London develop the modern peer review process?

The development of the modern peer review process by the Royal Society of London primarily aimed to control the quality of published papers. Peer review serves as a crucial checkpoint in scientific publishing, where experts in the field evaluate the research for its rigor, validity, and contribution to the discipline before it is made publicly available. This quality control mechanism helps ensure that only research that meets established standards of scientific excellence is disseminated, thereby protecting the integrity of the scientific literature.

While processes like deciding on promotions or awarding grant funding are important aspects of academia and research, they are not the primary goals of peer review. Similarly, although streamlining publication processes can be a secondary benefit of peer review, the central aim is to maintain rigorous standards in research publication, ultimately enhancing trust in scholarly communication. Thus, the focus on quality assurance solidifies the peer review process as a fundamental component of responsible research practices.