Strategies for Selecting and Justifying Your Peer Reviewer Suggestions in Review Processes
Researchers are increasingly being asked by journals to suggest a couple of peer reviewers when submitting manuscripts, though this practice is not universal. While there may be some skepticism about the purpose of these recommendations, they are not solely for the benefit of the authors.
One primary reason for requesting reviewer suggestions is due to the challenge journals often face in finding suitable reviewers for a given manuscript, which can lead to delays in the peer-review process. Journals seek author recommendations because authors tend to be familiar with the active researchers in their field, making the process more efficient. Additionally, journals want to avoid selecting reviewers who lack expertise in the manuscript's subject matter, which could result in negative or uninformed comments.
When providing reviewer recommendations, authors should keep several key points in mind:
- Take your time: Select reviewers who are active in the field and knowledgeable about specific aspects of your research.
- Avoid bias: Do not recommend researchers who have a negative bias against you, whether due to competition, personal disagreements, or different approaches to your work.
- Consider conflicts of interest: Do not recommend reviewers with whom you have a conflict of interest, such as academic competition, personal relationships, financial gains, rivalries, or differing perspectives.
- Focus on expertise: Suggest reviewers knowledgeable about the topic of your study, and ensure the journal has any specific guidelines for the expertise criteria.
- Be cautious with emeritus professors: They may or may not be interested in reviewing the manuscript, potentially causing delays.
- Embrace diversity: Consider a mix of tenured track professors and early career researchers. The former can offer new dimensions and constructive feedback, while the latter are often more active and expressive, providing detailed reviews that could enhance the quality of your manuscript.
- Think globally: Do not limit yourself to your home country; active researchers from other countries can provide a fresh perspective.
- Vary reviewers: Do not use the same reviewers for every manuscript in the same journal, even if there's no conflict of interest.
- Avoid co-authors, collaborators, previous mentors, and spouses: This may seem obvious, but authors frequently make this mistake.
When providing reasons for your reviewer selection, remember that journals now require explanations to combat unethical practices. Provide valid reasons such as the reviewer teaching classes on the specific topic or having expertise in a related area. The goal is to choose someone who can provide objective feedback and is not biased, either positively or negatively.
If you're unsure where to find relevant reviewers, start by considering the authors you cited in your research manuscript. These reviewers likely have extensive knowledge and understanding of the subject. By carefully considering these factors, you can help ensure that your manuscript receives constructive and relevant feedback from qualified reviewers.
- To enhance the efficiency of the peer-review process, authors may consider providing academic translation services for their manuscript, making it accessible to reviewers who are not fluent in the original language.
- In the spirit of education-and-self-development, an author might seek writing support or language editing services before manuscript submission to improve the clarity and quality of their academic writing.
- With submission readiness in mind, some researchers might recommend academic translation services for their research paper, ensuring that it is comprehendible to academic translators who will later review the paper.
- During the learning process, one might stumble upon a research paper that requires academic translation, thereby expanding their knowledge in the field and contributing to the body of academic writing.
