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COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers

t ensure their review is based on the merits of the work and not influenced, either positively or
negatively, by any personal, financial, or other conflicting considerations or by intellectual biases.

t not contact the authors directly without the permission of the journal.

When preparing the report

Peer reviewers should:

t bear in mind that the editor is looking to them for subject knowledge, good judgement, and an honest
and fair assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the work and the manuscript.

t make clear at the start of their review if they have been asked to address only specific parts or aspects
of a manuscript and indicate which these are.

t follow journals’ instructions on the specific feedback that is required of them and, unless there are
good reasons not to, the way this should be organized.

t be objective and constructive in their reviews and provide feedback that will help the authors to
improve their manuscript.

t not make derogatory personal comments or unfounded accusations.

t be specific in their criticisms, and provide evidence with appropriate references to substantiate general
statements such as, ‘this work has been done before’, to help editors in their evaluation and decision
and in fairness to the authors.

t remember it is the authors’ paper and not attempt to rewrite it to their own preferred style if it is
basically sound and clear; suggestions for changes that improve clarity are, however, important.

t be aware of the sensitivities surrounding language issues that are due to the authors writing in a
language that is not their own, and phrase the feedback appropriately and with due respect.

t make clear which suggested additional investigations are essential to support claims made in the
manuscript under consideration and which will just strengthen or extend the work.

t not prepare their report in such a way or include comments that suggest the review has been done by
another person.

t not prepare their report in a way that reflects badly or unfairly on another person.

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