Peer Review Process and Responding to Reviewers APS Professional Skills Course: Writing and Reviewing for Scientific Journals.

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