Peer review serves as a critical quality control mechanism in scholarly publishing, and every researcher wants to know how to become a peer reviewer. Peer reviewers are tasked with shaping the direction and quality of scientific research by providing authors with constructive feedback on the quality, integrity, validity, and originality of research articles submitted for journal publication. In fact, becoming a peer reviewer can be highly rewarding. It gives you access to various kinds of research and publication standards, allowing you to improve your writing skills and further your career.
As peer reviewers, you get the opportunity to expand your professional network and engage with peers, stay abreast of the latest research, enhance your critical thinking skills, build relationships with editors and publishers, and establish your reputation as an expert in your field. In an earlier article, we answered common questions about peer review; here, we explain how to become a peer reviewer and, what to keep in mind while working on your first review.
How to become a peer reviewer
When selecting peer reviewers, publishers look for people who are experts in the article’s research field. Therefore, the first and most obvious step to becoming a peer reviewer is publishing high-quality papers that are frequently cited, which establishes you as an expert in your field. The more you publish, the more visibility you gain prompting researchers in your field to recommend you as a reviewer. Editors of journals you publish in often will also soon start to see you as a potential peer reviewer.
If you’re an early career researcher, it’s important not to let the fact that you are just starting out discourage you. Reach out to supervisors or mentors, who may be able to suggest your name as a reviewer or put you in touch with journal editors looking for peer reviewers. They are also a great source for guidance and tips on how to become a peer reviewer, which can prove invaluable for budding reviewers.
Apart from publishing high-quality research in reputable journals, focus on building your academic reputation, visibility, and credibility by presenting your work at conferences and collaborating with colleagues in your field; this will help you transition from author to reviewer sooner.
Also, remember that editors are always seeking capable researchers to increase their pool of peer reviewers. Therefore, it’s a good idea to proactively reach out to editors of academic journals in your field and express your interest in becoming a peer reviewer. Considering the paucity of good reviewers, this willingness to review may open the door to becoming a co-reviewer or even an independent reviewer.
Most academic journals have a “contact us” page on their website, which you can use to submit your request. Make sure your email to the editor includes background information about yourself, your areas of expertise, and a list of your publications, presentations, and academic qualifications.
While waiting to be invited to peer review a journal article, explore non-journal peer reviewing opportunities. There are several platforms today that allow post-publication peer review, where registered users can add comment and share feedback on published articles. If you’re just starting out, this may be a good opportunity for you to learn how to become a peer reviewer.
Not only does it allow you to polish your reviewing skills, this tactic also helps you to connect and engage with peers in your field from all across the world.
5 Key considerations for first-time peer reviewers
For first-time reviewers eager to know how to become a good peer reviewer, it’s important to be aware that peer reviewing can be a challenging process. It requires a critical evaluation of the manuscript and an ability to provide clear constructive feedback that helps authors enhance their work.
Here are five things to consider on becoming a peer reviewer and before undertaking a review:
1. Understand the peer review process before agreeing to review
It is essential to understand the peer review process to know how to become a peer reviewer, this includes the roles of the editor, reviewer, and author, and the criteria for evaluating a manuscript. Read the guidelines provided by the journal thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the review process and the expectations of the journal. It’s also a good idea to browse the journal’s aims and scope and the author guidelines to get a sense of what is expected from authors.
Before agreeing to accept any reviews on your journey to becoming a peer reviewer, make sure you’re comfortable with the subject area, can finish the review within the stipulated time frame, and have no conflicts of interest that could impact your work.
2. Read the manuscript thoroughly and be objective and fair with feedback
As a peer reviewer, it is crucial to maintain objectivity and fairness in your evaluation of the manuscript. Read the manuscript thoroughly, paying attention to the research question, methods, results, and conclusion, and make brief notes that you can refer to later.
This can help you quickly evaluate the clarity and coherence of the manuscript, and assess whether the research is well-designed, and the conclusions are supported by the data presented. Ensure the feedback you provide is clear, constructive, easy to understand, and support your comments with logic and/or examples so that authors can improve their manuscript accordingly.
Experts also suggest making a separate list of comments exclusively for the editor. Here you can report concerns regarding possible ethical misconduct like plagiarism and data fabrication. Finally, make your recommendation for acceptance, rejection, and major or minor revisions to the editor, and provide reasons for your opinion. Avoid personal biases and focus on the quality and validity of the research presented in the manuscript.
3. Maintain confidentiality through the review process
Peer reviewing is a confidential process, and you should respect the confidentiality of the review process. It is critical not to share the manuscript or your review comments with anyone outside the peer review process. In some cases, you may feel that you recognize the work or the author but resist the temptation to look this up or discuss the paper you are reviewing with your peers or other experts in the field. Confidentiality needs to be maintained at all costs!
4. Cite relevant literature where required and use a structured review format
Citing relevant literature that supports your comments and inputs shows that you have a thorough understanding of the research topic. It also provides the author with additional resources to improve their manuscript. Experts suggest using a structured review format when offering feedback; most journals provide a review template or guidelines that you can use. This will help you organize your thoughts and present them in a clear, concise way so that authors can better understand your comments.
5. Provide constructive feedback that can be understood and actioned by authors
Becoming a peer reviewer means having to provide constructive feedback to the author and offer specific suggestions for improvement, share feedback in a way that will help authors clearly understand what is needed. Also it is important to keep the author’s perspective in mind when providing feedback.
Feel free to be critical, but avoid being harsh or rude, and if you found something great, make a note to appreciate it. Remember that the author has invested a lot of time and effort in their research so be respectful and courteous in your feedback.
Becoming a peer reviewer means playing the role of gatekeepers for research publishing, ensuring that only high-quality research is published. While this is a coveted position, not everyone is up to the task or equipped to manage the pressures and responsibilities that comes with being a peer reviewer. We hope this article has given you some insights on how to become a peer reviewer and some basic considerations to keep in mind when taking on new reviewing roles. All the best!
