Reviewer joining policy                       

Becoming a reviewer: how and why

Reviewing requires the investment of time and a certain skill set. Before you decide if you want to become a reviewer, we recommend that you read more about the peer review process and conducting a review. You can also check out some of the training courses and webinars in the tools and resources section.

Do you want to be a reviewer?

Typically reviewers are invited to conduct a review by a journal or books editor. Editors usually select researchers that are experts in the same subject area as the paper. However, if you think you would be a good reviewer for a specific journal you can always contact one of the journal's editors.

1.     Identify which journal you would like to review for using the Journal Finder tool on nrmejournals.com

2.     Visit the journal homepage and ‘view full editorial board’

3.     Contact the relevant editor(s) through the site and offer your reviewing services

What do reviewers do, and why?

Reviewers evaluate article submissions to journals, based on the requirements of that journal, predefined criteria, and quality, completeness and accuracy of the research presented. They provide feedback on the article and the research, suggest improvements and make a recommendation to the editor about whether to accept, reject or request changes to the article.

Reviewing is a time-intensive process – writing a review report can be almost as much work as writing a manuscript! – but it is very worthwhile for the reviewer as well as for the community.

Reviewers:

·        Ensure the rigorous standards of the scientific process by taking part in the peer-review system.

·        Uphold the integrity of the journal by identifying invalid research, and helping to maintain the quality of the journal.

·        Fulfill a sense of obligation to the community and their own area of research.

·        Establish relationships with reputable colleagues and their affiliated journals, and increase their opportunities to join an Editorial Board.

·        Reciprocate professional courtesy, as authors and reviewers are often interchangeable roles – as reviewer, researchers ‘repay’ the same courtesy they receive as authors.

Why review?

There are great benefits to becoming a reviewer. You can:

·        Establish your expertise in the field and expand your knowledge.

·        Improve your reputation and increase your exposure to key figures in the field.

·        Stay up to date with the latest literature, and have advanced access to research results.

·        Develop critical thinking skills essential to research.

·        Advance in your career – peer review is an essential role for researchers.

Recognizing reviewers

Reviewers are important to us; NEWREDMARS EDUCATION’s Reviewer Recognition Program aims to engage reviewers and reward them for the work they do. The Program features several projects and experiments.

Cross-Reviewing

Cross-Reviewing (CR) is a new innovation that allows reviewers to see each other’s reports once all reports have been submitted. It provides reviewers with a short window of time in which to discuss the reports. During this time, they are given the opportunity to provide additional information or make further recommendations to the editor based on this discussion, before they make a final decision.

Reviewer Recognition Platform

Reviewers find reviewing an important and rewarding activity, but the work is almost invisible to the outside world, and hardly ever rewarded. The Reviewer Recognition Platform is designed to change that.

The Platform offers reviewers a personalized profile page, documenting their reviewing history. If a reviewer has completed at least one review in two years, they become a ‘Recognized Reviewer’. ‘Outstanding Reviewer’ status is awarded to those who belong to the top 10th percentile in terms of the number of completed reviews for a specific journal in two years. Editors can also hand pick reviewers and award them with a ‘Certificate of Excellence’ and other perks.

Reviewers can download review certificates, end of year review reports and electronic badges via the Platform. Reviewers can also volunteer to review for their favourite NRME  journals.

Reviewer Feedback Programme

We regularly survey reviewers to get a better understanding of their needs and how we’re doing when it comes to meeting them. Findings from the Reviewer Feedback Programme help us to improve the reviewing experience. The Reviewer Feedback Programme monitors NEWREDMARS EDUCATION’s performance from the perspective of reviewers on NEWREDMARS EDUCATION journals.