Why should I be a peer reviewer?
| 26 March, 2024 | Jack Nash |
Peer review has long been an integral part of scholarly publishing, acting as a way to assess the validity and quality of research for readers. And, while the traditional process of closed peer review can pose some issues for researchers, we still believe that peer reviewers play a fundamental role in the research process, particularly when conducted as open peer review.
In our blog, we explore the difference between the Gates Open Research peer review model and traditional processes, and why researchers should continue to act as peer reviewers.
Open peer review at Gates Open Research
Some publishing venues, including Gates Open Research, use an open peer review model to help overcome issues with traditional peer review processes.
Typically, double- or single-blind models can help introduce more capacity for bias, encourage more criticism than helpful feedback, and focus on novelty of research over soundness of the science.
However, the Gates Open Research model means that reviewer identities are shared transparently, as are all reviewer comments and author responses.
This ensures that all elements of the publishing process are fully transparent, not just the articles themselves, and supports open research practices being adopted and promoted worldwide.
Beyond this, open review practices help to:
- Promote deeper learning opportunities for both authors and reviewers, with a genuine and open dialogue on both sides of the process
- Ensure everyone benefits and learns from reviewer feedback, including article readers, helping to improve their own future research
- Provide more constructive feedback, reduce the possibility for bias, and ensure feedback is focused on soundness of science rather than novelty by improving accountability
- Allow authors and others in the academic community to identify potential collaborators or peer reviewers for their own work
So why should I be a reviewer?
There are many benefits to participating in peer review for both early career researchers and those at a later stage.
Get credit for your work
One of the main issues facing current peer review practices is that reviewer participation is an often overlooked and undervalued part of the publishing process.
However, open peer review processes help reviewers to get much-deserved credit for their work.
All peer review reports at Gates Open Research are published openly with their own unique DOI, meaning that reviewers can share their reports with their networks, include them in job and funding assessments, and link them to their ORCID and Google Scholar profiles. On top of this, these DOIs mean that others can cite peer review reports in their own work, thus boosting visibility.
Additionally, each peer review report has its own metrics, which can show how many times the report has been viewed, again acting as evidence of the impact of participation.
Demonstrate your expertise
In turn, these open reports can help reviewers to establish their presence as a credible and experienced researcher in their field.
Authors, article readers, and other stakeholders can read all the insights provided by reviewers, helping to showcase the expertise of reviewers and highlight their roles in improving research, to the benefit of the wider research community.
Become part of a publisher’s network and find collaborators
Many publishers have communities of researchers who regularly interact and discuss key themes or developments in the field. Reviewing for publishers can give reviewers access to these networks and support connections for future collaborations.
Being a regular reviewer can also give you the opportunity to become an editorial board member or guest advisor for a specific publishing venue.
Additionally, with all reviewer names and reports publicly available, it enables article readers, some of whom may be key researchers or stakeholders, to identify reviewers as potential collaborators for their own work.
Help uphold research integrity
Peer review, especially open peer review that seeks to overcome existing challenges in the process, plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of scientific research.
Open peer review allows the research community and the wider public to have greater trust in the research process and findings, and acting as a reviewer helps researchers to play a fundamental part in this.
Keep up with the latest trends in the field
By participating in peer review, researchers have the opportunity to engage with, evaluate, and improve new research in the field.
This way, they can broaden their own knowledge, keep up to date with new developments, and incorporate new ideas and techniques in their work and research projects.
Improve your skills
The peer review process requires reviewers to read through a manuscript and reflect on the strong and weak aspects of the paper. This requires solid analysis and report writing skills, and participating in peer review can help researchers to improve and refine these skills.
Opportunities for early career researchers
All of these benefits are especially important for those researchers who are earlier in their career.
Unlike many other publishers, who reserve peer review opportunities for senior researchers only, Gates Open Research allows early career researchers to participate through co-reviewing.
This means reviewing an article alongside a supervisor or other experienced colleague, who can coach junior scientists through the process and help them to develop their skills.
In turn, this allows late career researchers to develop the future generation of scientists.
Peer reviewing with Gates Open Research
If you’d like to be part of the change, you can find out more about peer review at Gates Open Research and express your interest in becoming a reviewer yourself.
If you’d like to benefit from this peer review approach for your own work, find out more about publishing your Gates-funded work with the platform.
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