Peer Review

Question 1

Peer review is

Answer 1

a system whereby hypotheses (ideas), experiments (observations) and conclusions (claims) are subjected to critical evaluation and review by one or more experts in the pertinent fields or disciplines.

Question 2

Peer review is

Answer 2

intellectual quality control.

Question 3

peer review is always applied to

Answer 3

applications for funds (grants) to support experimental or clinical research.

Question 4

peer review is routinely applied to

Answer 4

articles submitted for publication in journals.

Question 5

peer review is sometimes applied to

Answer 5

abstracts for oral presentations at scientific or clinical meetings.

Question 6

the traditional standards applied to a peer-reviewed journal article serve as a

Answer 6

model for critical thinking and evaluation.

Question 7

introduction questions

Answer 7

is there a clearly stated rationale or hypothesis?

does the rationale or hypothesis have a logical basis?

has the background been adequately reviewed, summarized and understood?

Question 8

the most important section of the article is the

Answer 8

methods (how the study wasd done; how information was collected).

Question 9

methods questions

Answer 9

are the experimental methods appropritate for the stated rationale?

if the study involves measurements or observations, are the subjects’ characteristics appropriate and representative of the larger population which the study is intended to address?

have appropriate statistical considerations been taken into account?

Question 10

results questions

Answer 10

have the measurements or observations been adequately presented?

are graphs, diagrams or other summary figures and statistics representative o the entire study sample?

do the results present the blemishes along with the positive and confirmatory findings and observations?

Question 11

discussion

Answer 11

do the authors address their results?

do the authors critically evaluate their work?

are all claims and conclusions supported by the results?

Question 12

steps typically involved in peer review of a manuscript submitted for publication in a biomedical journal

Answer 12

1. submit the original manuscript
2. receive comments form the referees, along with the editorial summary and decision.
3. revise the manuscript and resubmit
4. acceptance

Question 13

referees are

Answer 13

experts in the field who do not get reimbursed for a review. Their job is to apply critical evaluation to the study being reviewed.

Question 14

sequence of reviewers

Answer 14

journal staff
scientific editors
members of the editorial board
reviewers

Question 15

journal staff

Answer 15

oversees receipt of manuscripts, manages communications with authors and reviewers and processes accepted manuscripts for publication.

Question 16

scientific editors

Answer 16

make the final decision as to whether a specific manuscript will be accepted for publication, returned for revisions or rejected.

Question 17

members of the editorial board

Answer 17

read and review papers, select reviewers and monitor quality of reviews, and recommend actions to editor.

Question 18

reviewers

Answer 18

provide reviews of manuscripts, make recommendations concerning publications.

Question 19

what do the editors look for in reviewers?

Answer 19

expertise
objectivity
no conflict of interest
good judgment
able to think clearly and logically
able to write a good critique
reliable in returning reviews
able to do the review in the allotted time frame.

Question 20

the peer review process is viewed by scientists and the public as

Answer 20

providing a scientific stamp of approval to the paper and its contents.

the reviewer therefore has an ethical obligation to support work of high quality while appropriately challenging flawed papers.

Question 21

medical publications with peer review

Answer 21

JAMA
New England Journal of Medicine
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
Annals of Internal Medicine