Purpose of Peer Review

Peer review is a cornerstone of scholarly publishing and scientific integrity. It serves two main purposes:

• Quality Filter: Ensures the research is thoroughly vetted before publication.
• Improvement Tool: Helps authors enhance their work through expert critique and suggestions.

Before You Accept a Review Request

• Relevance: Only accept if the article aligns with your expertise.
• Availability: Ensure you have adequate time to complete the review (typically 5–6 hours).
• Conflicts of Interest: Disclose any affiliations with authors or institutions.

How to Conduct a Review

• Keep the manuscript and your evaluation confidential.
• Do not contact the author directly.
• Focus on the scientific integrity, structure, originality, and clarity of the paper.
• Base your evaluation on these key elements:
  • Originality: Does it offer new insights or findings?
  • Structure: Are title, abstract, intro, methods, results, and conclusion present and coherent?
  • Methodology: Are methods clearly explained and replicable?
  • Results: Are results logically organized and statistically sound?
  • Discussion: Are conclusions supported by data?
  • Language: Note grammar or clarity issues for the editor’s attention.

Ethical Considerations

• Plagiarism: Report suspected duplication with sources.
• Fabrication: Alert editors if results seem suspicious or manipulated.
• Confidentiality: Maintain integrity in handling research involving humans/animals.

Writing Your Review

Your review should be constructive, detailed, and respectful. Include:

• A brief summary of the article.
• Specific feedback on strengths and weaknesses.
• Recommendation:
  • Reject – not suitable for publication.
  • Accept – with or without revisions.
  • Revise – major or minor improvements needed.