Peer Review Process and Responding to Reviewers APS Professional Skills Course: Writing and Reviewing for Scientific Journals.
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Peer Review Process and Responding to Reviewers
APS Professional Skills Course:
Writing and Reviewing for Scientific Journals
The Peer Review Process
• A powerful tool
• Cornerstone of the scientific community
• Intimidating for new scientists
The Publication Process
The Peer Review Process
• Editor examines title, abstract, and key words
• Editor assigns 2-3 reviewers
• Reviewers read manuscript
• Reviewers recommend a decision to editor
• Editor reads reviews and sends final decision to author
• Total time = 4 – 6 wk (depends on journal)
Review Decisions
• Accepted with no revisions
• Accepted with revisions
• Rejected
Why Manuscripts Get Rejected
• Inappropriate for journal
• Study was poorly designed
• Conclusions made are not supported by data
• Manuscript was poorly written or organized
• Major revisions required
What to Do If Rejected • Read reviews very carefully• Do additional experiments if needed• Include other work to expand study if needed• Rewrite/revise the manuscript based on reviewers’
comments • Resubmission to same journal
– Does the editor want a resubmission?– Must address the issues from the previous review– “No” means NO!
• Submission to an alternate journal– Address issues from previous review– Could get the same reviewer(s)
• Learn from the experience!
Revision Needed
• Read editor’s letter and reviews
• Revise the manuscript
• Respond to reviewers
• Resubmit revised manuscript
Editor’s Letter
• Look for “clues”
• Minor or major revisions needed
• Critical issues to deal with
• Advice if reviewers requests are contradictory
• Contact if questions
Responding to Reviews
• Read and get mad• Put reviews away for 24-48 hours• Re-read reviews• Try to understand what reviewers are saying• Discuss reviews with collaborators & mentor• Consider which issues are critical• Give way on minor inconsequential points• Reviewer is ALWAYS right
Preparing the Revised Manuscript
• Common revisions– Additional experiments – Additional data analysis – Re-write unclear or incomplete text
• Colleague read and comment
• Prepare manuscript for submission
Writing the Response to the Editor
• Cover letter thanking reviewer and editor• Respond to each point • Detail changes made to manuscript
– Point 1: Meaning not clear whether x happened• Response: Sentence re-written to show x happened
– Point 1: Period missing in sentence 1• Response: Period inserted
• If you think reviewer is wrong, give reasons and politely disagree
• Colleague read and comment
Submitting Your Revisions
• Return letter detailing responses to reviewers and revised manuscript to Editor
• If you decide not to revise the manuscript, contact the Editor and withdraw it
After Acceptance
• Final acceptance notice• Submit final text and graphics• Copyediting and art editing
• Page proof approval• Color figure approval
• Publication
Experience Issues
• Peer review is a professional AND human endeavor
• Critical to seek out advice from colleagues
• Understanding decision based on editor’s cover letter
• Understanding level of revision needed
• Dealing with critical comments
• Writing ability
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