Peer Review: Are You Asking the Right Questions?

As you review a manuscript, focusing on the quality of the work and the presentation of the paper will help you conduct a thorough and fair assessment.

As you review, let these questions and tips drive your evaluation.

Quality of the Work

Take a close look at how the methods, results, and conclusions work together.

Methods

• Are the methods appropriate and presented in enough detail to be replicated?
• Do all of the methods have results? 

Results

• Did the author analyze, qualify, and interpret the results?
• Have all of the results been described in the methods?

Conclusions

• Do the data support the conclusions?
• Are all of the conclusions based on results?

Presentation of the Paper

Consider the paper’s key components to determine if it is well-organized and has an argument that progresses naturally.

Writing

• Is the style clear and concise?
• Is it grammatically correct? 

Title

• Does the title reflect the content of the manuscript?
• Is it specific? 

Abstract

• Does the abstract provide a brief, accurate summary?
• Does it include the aims, methods, results, and conclusions?
• Can all of the information stand alone?
• Does the abstract address the purpose of the work, the method, findings, and significance? 

Figures

• Are figures justified and clear?
• Is the font proportionate to the size of the figure?
• Are the legends clear and complete? 

Tables

• Can any of the tables be simplified or condensed?
• Should any tables be omitted? 

Trade names, abbreviations, symbols

• Are they used correctly where they are indicated?

Article adapted from the presentation, “Reviewing — The Basics” by Toby Charkin, executive publisher at Elsevier.