Online Peer Review
Online Peer Review
Evaliuating research papers or articles submitted for publication with the help of online peer review specialists is called a live collaborative process where the particular referred processe by the scientists is the one assessing the quality and validity of such papers or articles. This time is of the essence in terms of preserving the ethical principles of science such as academic integrity, supporting researchers' development, and ensuring that authors get positive, direct feedback to their work before it goes public.
What are the main benefits of online peer review?
The primary advantages of online peer review are the improved accessibility and the potential for reviewers from every corner of the globe to contribute to it, as well as the increase in transparency in the evaluation process. Online platforms are essential for effective communication and workflow management which consequently lowers authors and publishers turnaround time. As an illustration, several publications employ platforms like ScholarOne or Editorial Manager for the automation of submissions and reviews, thus the overall experience of each stakeholder is enriched.
How does the online peer review process work?
In online peer review, the starting point is always an author's submission to an online journal platform. Subsequently, the team to the group selects the right reviewers who evaluate the work on the basis of originality, significance, and methodology. With the feedback received, the authors could revise the manuscript accordingly. The paper continues to improve in this iterative cycle until it reaches the desired level to be published in the journal. To illustrate, a research article submitted to a science journal can be subject to several rounds of refereeing prior to its final acceptance.
What challenges does online peer review face?
Peer review in the online sector is beset by lots of obstacles, such as those regarding the reviewers' attendance and inclination, as well as the provision of quality feedback. Besides, the anonymity of reviewers may occasionally be the reason for unhelpful criticism or lack of accountability. Journals, in turn, are incorporating more and more approaches to counteract these problems, for example; double-blind review processes or the use of expert reviewers only instead of those who are convenient.
How does online peer review differ from traditional peer review?
The submission and review process of online peer review, which is a type of peer review carried out on digital platforms, is primarily different from that of traditional peer review. While physical manuscripts and slow communication through mail are the main characteristics of the traditional peer review system, the online peer review system provides the possibility of feedback and collaboration in real time. The digital way of doing things shortens the time taken, eliminates costs related to printing and mailing, and also, it expands the number of reviewers, consequently, it becomes more diverse in the reviewers that are involved in the evaluation.