This past week, a friend asked me to peer review a paper. I don’t write many peer reviews - bc I invest a lot of time in editorial work - & lack the bandwidth.
But once in a while, a paper catches my interest & I take a day for it.
By peer-review or friendly review, I mean reading the paper, commenting on major issues, providing suggestions for methods, and offering a global assessment of whether it’s ready for submission.
If you ask a colleague for a peer review, you must keep a few things in mind.
You are asking for a favor.
When a paper is sent to a colleague for peer review, it should be in pretty good shape - so it should not be littered with grammatical errors - or have large chunks of the paper left to be completed.
It also helps if you tell the colleague what you are interested in feedback on - a tricky point in the setup, a method question, or help thinking about the contribution.
You should have a relationship with the person. Rarely have I looked at a paper that was just sent to me - I do not know anyone that does - so ask someone you know.
Finally, have someone you trust look at the paper. Trust is important bc you don’t want someone lifting your ideas or to worry about your ideas being lifted.
So if the paper is almost ready? Why a peer review?
Because you will miss something - inevitably- in your paper, I’ve never asked a friend to look at a paper & been disappointed. Invariably, they have helped me identify a pain point that makes my paper stronger.
So if you ask for a peer review, what should you expect?
First, the level of detail will vary.
I have received six-sentence peer reviews that cause me to reframe my work completely.
I have received back marked-up documents that helped me solve a logic problem.
I have had short or long calls to discuss the paper.
Second, the comments can be more casual or cruel than a normal review.
Remember, this is a favor - the favor is being critical of your work - so the tone often isn’t formal.
Also, the comments are meant for your eyes - not a panel’s eyes - so many simply say what they think.
Third, you have to work with your colleague’s timeline.
I sometimes receive requests just days before a special issue deadline.
It doesn’t work.
You have to give people plenty of time to glance over the paper.
But you can be clear about when you want to submit.
Fourth, don’t take ‘no’ personally.
People are busy - we have such pressure to produce papers & to teach + our lives away from work.
It’s hit or miss if even your best friend has time to look at the paper.
Finally, despite these challenges, there is nothing like a good peer review.
You receive feedback, your paper isn’t rejected, & you receive insight into how to do better work.
Rarely, have I had a peer-reviewed paper desk rejected.
Peer review before submission has made me a better author.
Best of luck!
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