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ACM Transactions on Database Systems going double blind
Richard T. Snodgrass, the editor-in-chief of ACM Transactions on Database Systems wrote a beautiful editorial (ACM TODS, Volume 32, Issue 1, March 2007) explaining why they just changed the journal to use a double-blind review system, that is, a review system where authors do not know who reviews them and the reviewers do not know who they review. This system is far from perfect, but I much prefer symmetry. Either everyone sees everyone, or else, everyone goes blind. Here is a quote that’s good summary:
Many studies provide evidence that DBR (double-blind review) is more fair to authors from less prestigious institutions and to women authors. Such differences are likely to matter even more for highly selective conferences and journals.