Peer Review Essentials at ICRP

Peer review stands as a cornerstone of quality and integrity in academic publishing, serving to validate and enhance the research presented in journals. This guide aims to demystify the peer review process for those new to or interested in becoming part of this critical endeavor at ICRP.

Understanding Your Role as a Peer Reviewer

As a reviewer, your task is to assess a manuscript objectively, focusing on the strengths and potential weaknesses of the study it presents. It's important to critique the research, not the researchers, while providing constructive feedback for improvement. At ICRP, the anonymity of reviewers is maintained to ensure an unbiased review process.

Receiving a Review Invitation

Upon being selected to review a manuscript, you'll receive an email from ICRP with details of the invitation, including the manuscript's title, authors, and abstract. This initial communication will offer options to either accept or decline the review request. Accepting the invitation grants you access to the full submission files for comprehensive review.

Conducting Your Review

Embarking on the review, consider the manuscript's research question, methodology, results, and conclusions, among other aspects:

• Clarity and Importance of the Research Question: Is the question well-formulated and significant within the field?
• Appropriateness and Detail of the Methodology: Are the methods suitable for the research question, and are they described in enough detail for replication?
• Results and Data Support: Do the results align with the data presented, and are they articulated clearly?
• Strength of the Conclusions: Are the conclusions justified by the results, and are they presented within appropriate limits?
• Overall Presentation: Is the manuscript coherent, concise, and well-written?

For an in-depth review process, refer to our Peer Review Checklist.

Submitting Your Review

Once your review is complete, submit it via ICRP's manuscript tracking system. Your submission should include a summary of your assessment, a publication recommendation (e.g., accept, require major/minor revisions, or reject), and detailed comments outlining the manuscript's strengths and areas for improvement. Confidential comments to the editor are also welcomed and remain unseen by the authors.

Reviewing Revised Manuscripts

Should the authors revise their manuscript in response to your feedback, you'll be notified of the resubmission. Evaluate whether the revisions address your initial concerns and recommend further action accordingly.

ICRP offers various resources to aid in crafting your review report, including a Language Advice guide for reviewers.

Acknowledgement and Resources

ICRP acknowledges the valuable contributions of its reviewers. If you seek recognition for your role as a reviewer, please contact our support team for a certificate or letter of acknowledgment.

Visit our resources page for additional guidance and support throughout the review process, ensuring that your review is as effective and helpful as possible to both the authors and the academic community.