Specifics of selecting reviewers for the journal
Category:
For editors
Date of publications:
21.11.2024
Views:
124
Finding reviewers is one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks that journal editors face. The rapid growth in the number of received papers means an increase in the number of required reviewers, but the acceptance rate of review invitations may decrease in different periods.
It is necessary to find reviewers with sufficient competence to evaluate a particular paper. They should also be prepared to prepare a detailed review within the deadline. This may immediately limit the pool of candidates, especially in narrow research areas, but beyond that it is also important to make sure:
1. References in the paper. The bibliography section in the submitted manuscript is an excellent way to find reviewers. The names of other current respected researchers working in the same field as the author of the paper will probably be mentioned here. But beware of conflicts of interest, as authors may refer to their colleagues or co-authors.
2. Search tools and databases. There are many different search tools and resources for finding reviewers. Here are the main ones:
The service provides access to over seven million expert researchers using Publons' unique reviewer database and the world's premier article and citation index, Web of Science.
The system has a tool that can be used to find reviewers: when an author submits a paper, the search tool searches for reviewers using keywords and the manuscript abstract. There is an option to customise the search parameters on ScholarOne so that the search provides the information needed to effectively select reviewers.
This tool allows you to search for researchers by keywords. It searches through millions of papers and articles in PubMed to find the most relevant authors matching the query.
3. Use your editorial board. Your editorial board is a great source for both reviews and reviewer recommendations. Involvement in the review process will help increase efficiency and broaden the pool of reviewers.
Invite editorial board members to review papers according to their specialisation; you can make this a condition of joining the journal's editorial board.
4. Review previous authors and guest editors. The journal itself is also an excellent source of potential reviewers. Authors of previously published papers and guest editors of the journal may be exactly who you are looking for as a reviewer.
5. Ask reviewers who decline to review to suggest a replacement reviewer. Invited reviewers decline to review for a variety of reasons, but that doesn't mean they can't help you find alternatives. You can even add a request to "suggest suitable alternative reviewers" to your initial invitation to review.
6. Consider recruiting young researchers. Early career researchers need to gain experience in reviewing papers. They are also less susceptible to an influx of requests, and therefore more likely to be able to help. However, be aware that they may need mentoring or formal training - especially if they are writing a review for the first time.
It is important to continually expand the journal's pool of reviewers. Not only will this help you find reviewers more quickly, but it will also ensure that you don't have to use the same people. To do this, you can use the following simple methods:
It is necessary to find reviewers with sufficient competence to evaluate a particular paper. They should also be prepared to prepare a detailed review within the deadline. This may immediately limit the pool of candidates, especially in narrow research areas, but beyond that it is also important to make sure:
- does the reviewer have any indication of potential conflicts of interest?
- is the reviewer independent of other agreed reviewers?
- is the choice of reviewers for the article sufficiently diverse (by gender, residence, career, etc.)?
- is this particular reviewer used too often? When the same reviewer is repeatedly involved in the peer review of a manuscript, he or she may develop so-called "reviewer fatigue".
1. References in the paper. The bibliography section in the submitted manuscript is an excellent way to find reviewers. The names of other current respected researchers working in the same field as the author of the paper will probably be mentioned here. But beware of conflicts of interest, as authors may refer to their colleagues or co-authors.
2. Search tools and databases. There are many different search tools and resources for finding reviewers. Here are the main ones:
The service provides access to over seven million expert researchers using Publons' unique reviewer database and the world's premier article and citation index, Web of Science.
- Taylor and Francis reviewer search tool
The system has a tool that can be used to find reviewers: when an author submits a paper, the search tool searches for reviewers using keywords and the manuscript abstract. There is an option to customise the search parameters on ScholarOne so that the search provides the information needed to effectively select reviewers.
This tool allows you to search for researchers by keywords. It searches through millions of papers and articles in PubMed to find the most relevant authors matching the query.
3. Use your editorial board. Your editorial board is a great source for both reviews and reviewer recommendations. Involvement in the review process will help increase efficiency and broaden the pool of reviewers.
Invite editorial board members to review papers according to their specialisation; you can make this a condition of joining the journal's editorial board.
4. Review previous authors and guest editors. The journal itself is also an excellent source of potential reviewers. Authors of previously published papers and guest editors of the journal may be exactly who you are looking for as a reviewer.
5. Ask reviewers who decline to review to suggest a replacement reviewer. Invited reviewers decline to review for a variety of reasons, but that doesn't mean they can't help you find alternatives. You can even add a request to "suggest suitable alternative reviewers" to your initial invitation to review.
6. Consider recruiting young researchers. Early career researchers need to gain experience in reviewing papers. They are also less susceptible to an influx of requests, and therefore more likely to be able to help. However, be aware that they may need mentoring or formal training - especially if they are writing a review for the first time.
It is important to continually expand the journal's pool of reviewers. Not only will this help you find reviewers more quickly, but it will also ensure that you don't have to use the same people. To do this, you can use the following simple methods:
- placing an announcement about finding reviewers on the main page of the journal in the "News" section;
- networking at conferences - conference speakers and presenters are a great way to find potential reviewers.
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