Being an Effective Peer Reviewer

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Key features

Supports researchers with strategies to improve their skills as a peer reviewer

Includes a workbook with keypoints, activities to reinforce the content, and additional online resources

Interactive workshop where the trainer stimulates engagement and discussion with the attendees

Format

1-day live workshop delivered by an expert trainer

Auditorium or classroom style

Available in-person or virtually

Audience

Up to 250 early-career researchers

Tailored to one of five research areas: life sciences, physical sciences & engineering, Earth & environmental sciences, clinical medicine, or social sciences

Masterclass in Being an Effective Peer Reviewer

Peer review is essential in academic publishing. However, because most researchers do not receive training on how to be an effective peer reviewer, many feel formal peer reviewer training would be valuable to give them the skills and confidence to be effective reviewers and fulfill their obligations to the academic community. Drawing on our breadth of experience in scholarly publishing, this 1-day workshop aims to achieve these goals. Nature Masterclasses are available in-person and virtually.

Being An Effective Peer Reviewer workshop - led by experts

Responsibilities and ethics

  • Discusses the importance of peer review for the author, the journal, and for the field
  • Discusses how editors choose reviewers and what are their expectations
  • Reviews when a researcher should accept an invitation to be a reviewer and if so, the responsibilities they will be expected to adhere to as a referee
  • Discusses ethical issues surrounding peer review such as confidentiality, objectivity, and bias

Assessing manuscript relevance

  • Reviews strategies to conduct peer review thoroughly and efficiently
  • Determines what the journal is expecting in terms of breadth and impact, which helps to tailor the review to be appropriate
  • Discusses how to assess the relevance of the manuscript from a big picture perspective – what is the motivation behind the study and is that important for the field now?

Evaluating the manuscript

  • Evaluates each section of the manuscript, beginning with common mistakes made related to the title and abstract, and how to advise the appropriate changes for the author
  • Highlights strategies to evaluate the clarity and breadth of the Introduction, as well as the technical rigor and transparency in the Methods
  • Discusses how to assess the clarity and appropriateness of the Figures and the accuracy of their description
  • Reviews how to ensure the Discussion thoroughly discusses the relevance of the results for the field, as well as the validity of the conclusion

Writing clear reviewer reports

  • Introduces the different types of reports that reviewers may encounter while working with different journals, as well as the editorial expectations
  • Reviews how to write an effective summary of the study and how this will be important for both the editor and the author
  • Discusses the confidential comments to the editor and the information that editors are expecting the reviewer to share about the study
  • Highlights strategies on how to communicate any major and/or minor concerns with the study to the authors

I found this workshop really interesting. All the information was explained with clarity. It will help me evaluate future publications and improve my reports as a reviewer. Thank you!

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