Peer Review Process and Responding to Reviewers

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Peer Review Process and Responding to Reviewers

• APS Professional Skills Course
• Writing and Reviewing for Scientific Journals

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The Peer Review Process

• A powerful tool
• Cornerstone of the scientific community
• Intimidating for new scientists

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The Publication Process
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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)

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Review Decisions

• Accepted with no revisions
• Accepted with revisions
• Rejected

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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

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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!

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Revision Needed

• Read editors letter and reviews
• Revise the manuscript
• Respond to reviewers
• Resubmit revised manuscript

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Editors Letter

• Look for clues
• Minor or major revisions needed
• Critical issues to deal with
• Advice if reviewers requests are contradictory
• Contact if questions

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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

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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

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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

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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

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After Acceptance

• Final acceptance notice
• Submit final text and graphics
• Copyediting and art editing
• Page proof approval
• Color figure approval
• Publication

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Experience Issues

• Peer review is a professional AND human endeavor
• Critical to seek out advice from colleagues
• Understanding decision based on editors cover
  letter
• Understanding level of revision needed
• Dealing with critical comments
• Writing ability