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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Peer reviewed means a journal sought advice on a manuscript from subject experts outside its editorial team. It tells you something about how the work was assessed—not that its findings are guaranteed to be correct. To understand what happened, check the journal’s policy and the article’s disclosures: who reviewed it, which identities were concealed or shared, whether reports were published, and who made the editorial decision.
What is peer review?
The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) define peer review as “obtaining advice on manuscripts from reviewers/experts in the manuscript’s subject area.” Their guidance specifies that reviewers should not be part of the journal’s editorial team. COPE/DOAJ/OASPA/WAME transparency principles
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In practice, a journal editor invites experts to assess a submission against the journal’s criteria. Reviewers may identify concerns, suggest revisions, or advise the editor about publication. The editor—not the reviewers as a group—makes the editorial decision. The exact procedure can vary with the journal, discipline, and article type, so the label alone does not describe the full process.
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What does “peer reviewed” mean?
It means the journal’s process included review by subject experts, but the phrase does not establish that reviewers verified every detail, detected every error, or confirmed that a result is true. Peer review can filter and improve manuscripts; it is not a guarantee of accuracy or freedom from bias.
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In a 2022 Springer Nature author survey, 82% of researchers said peer review improves the quality of their work, as reported by the STM Association. That is a finding about researchers’ views, not a measure of how often review catches errors or produces correct findings. STM Association report
Nor does “peer reviewed” identify one standard model. To find out what happened to a particular article, consult the journal’s current peer-review policy and the article’s disclosures. COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, and WAME recommend that journals explain which content is reviewed, who reviews it, the model used, how identities are handled, whether reports are published or signed, how decisions are made, and which article types are exceptions. Their transparency page was last reviewed on September 15, 2022, and says it is under review; consult the journal for its current policy.
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How does peer review work?
- Submission and editorial assessment: The journal receives a manuscript, and an editor handles it under the journal’s procedures and criteria.
- Review invitations: The editor seeks advice from reviewers with relevant subject expertise who are not part of the editorial team. The journal’s policy determines the review model and how reviewer identities are handled.
- Assessment and feedback: Reviewers evaluate the work and may provide comments or recommendations. Depending on the journal, comments may be shared with the authors, the editor, or both.
- Editorial decision: The editor considers the reviews and makes the decision. A review recommendation is advice, not itself the publication decision.
- Revision or further scrutiny: If the journal requests revisions, authors can respond to the feedback. Some review histories or comments may also become available after publication, depending on the journal’s policy.
Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive feedback, keep manuscripts confidential, disclose conflicts of interest, and accept assignments only when they have suitable expertise and enough time. COPE/DOAJ/OASPA/WAME transparency principles PLOS reviewer guidance
What are the main peer-review models?
The labels describe different aspects of the process. “Anonymized” models concern which participants know each other’s identities; “open peer review” is an umbrella for several transparency practices, not a promise that all identities and reports will be public. The STM/NISO terminology initiative formalized its standard as an ANSI/NISO standard in July 2023. It compares review across identity transparency, reviewer interactions, information published about the process, and post-publication commenting. STM peer-review terminology
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| Model or term | What it generally means | What the label does not tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Single-anonymized | Reviewers know the authors’ identities; authors do not know the reviewers’ identities. One stated rationale is to shield reviewers from possible influence or pressure. | It does not show whether reports are published, whether reviewers interact, or how the editor decides. |
| Double-anonymized | Authors and reviewers are anonymized to each other. The model aims to minimize bias related to affiliation, gender, or geographic origin. | Anonymization does not prove that bias is eliminated, and the label does not specify whether reports are public. |
| Open peer review | An umbrella term for varying combinations of identity sharing, published reports, open discussion, community comments, review of preprints, post-publication comments, or separation of review from publication. | It does not by itself promise that every participant is named or every report is published. |
| Post-publication review | Scrutiny that continues after publication, for example through public comments, discussion, or formal critiques. It can complement review before publication. | It does not necessarily replace pre-publication review or follow one standard format. |
These descriptions reflect the models and practices summarized by STM and PLOS. STM peer-review terminology PLOS: What is open peer review?
What is open peer review?
Open peer review is a family of approaches that make some part of review more transparent. A journal might disclose reviewer identities, publish reports, enable public discussion, or allow comments after publication. These features can appear in different combinations, so check the policy rather than assuming “open” means every identity and document is visible.
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Example: PLOS published review history
PLOS lets authors of accepted articles opt to publish their review history alongside the article. This can include editorial decision letters, editorial feedback, reviewer reports, and author responses. Reviewers who sign their comments have their names displayed; unsigned reviews remain anonymous. PLOS says this record can help readers see what questions arose and how authors responded, and can give students examples of reviewing. These are PLOS’s stated benefits, not universal outcomes established for every journal or field. PLOS reviewer guidance
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- Who reviews? Look for a description of reviewers’ subject expertise and whether they are external to the editorial team.
- Which model is used? Check whether the journal uses single-anonymized, double-anonymized, an open-review approach, or different models for different article types.
- Whose identities are visible? Find out whether authors know reviewer identities, reviewers know author identities, or either party can choose to reveal a name.
- What becomes public? Check whether reports, editorial correspondence, author responses, or post-publication comments are published, and whether signing is optional.
- Who decides? The policy should explain how the editor uses reviewers’ advice to reach a decision.
- Are there exceptions? Confirm whether the process differs for editorials, letters, reviews, or other article types.
COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, and WAME also say journals should not guarantee acceptance of initial submissions. Any stated review-time estimates should be supported by published timeframes for accepted papers; authors should be told about delays and given the chance to withdraw. COPE/DOAJ/OASPA/WAME transparency principles
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If you are asked to review a paper
A careful review is useful to authors and editors only when it is informed, fair, and delivered within the reviewer’s capacity. PLOS’s suggested workflow offers a practical sequence:
- Accept only if you have the relevant expertise, enough time, and no conflict that prevents an objective assessment.
- Read the journal’s criteria so your comments address what it asks reviewers to evaluate.
- Read once to understand the overall argument, then again to take detailed notes.
- Examine the research question, methods, conclusions, figures, and tables.
- Summarize the work and explain specific concerns and possible improvements constructively.
PLOS reviewer guidance The American Chemical Society also developed ACS Reviewer Lab, an on-demand reviewer-training course covering conflicts of interest, significance, and technical quality. STM Association report
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