Does the Journal Peer Review Select the "Best" from the Work Submitted The State of Empirical Research

The goal for the peer review of manuscripts is usually to select the "best" from the work submitted. In the -investigation of the predictive validity of the peer review process, the question of whether this goal will -actually be achieved arises, that is, whether indeed the "best" manuscripts are published. This review of the studies published on the predictive validity of peer review describes the state of empirical research on this topic. All studies confirmed that the editorial decisions (acceptance or rejection) for the various -journals appear to reflect a rather high degree of predictive validity, if citation counts are employed as validity criteria. The studies confirm that peer review represents a quality filter and works as an instrument for the self-regulation of science.