The Canadian Center Of Science And Education On Peer Review

Peer review remains a vital tool for providing industry information to both academic leaders and the general public. Virtually every field of academics benefits in some way from the process of peer review.

What is exactly is peer review? How does it contribute to a stronger academic community? Read on to discover the merits and applications of the peer review process.

The Basics

Peer review involves industry professionals evaluating a body of work produced by a fellow professional in the field. This review is conducted in order to ensure, or enhance, the quality of the work.

Like an editor, this group of peers is capable of locating weaknesses or mistakes in a work that may not be evident to the author. A large, diverse group of participants can make an informed evaluation without sacrificing the creativity and meaning of the work.

The Process

First, an academic, scientist or similar professional completes a study. This professional (or group of professionals) submits the study to a publication in the form of a scholarly article.

The editors of the publication send the article to other professionals in the same field. These peers provide feedback to the editor about the quality of the study. Peers typically look for logical reasoning, applicable previous works and well-supported claims.

The original author or authors of the study may then revise the work in order to re-submit it. Through this editing and review process, only articles that meet high standards and criteria are approved for publishing and circulation.

The process relies on independent and, often, anonymous reviews in order to prevent intentional or unintentional favoritism.

Relevant Fields

Peer review is used in an extensive variety of fields. Academic research, scientific studies, medical findings and law articles may all be subject to the peer-review process.

Peer review is also used to ensure the quality of non-academic fields. Peer review may be incorporated into professional judging for athletic competitions and similar large-scale events.

Journal publishers at the Canadian Center of Science and Education confirm that a vast number of fields rely on peer review. Publications in the humanities, biological sciences, management, education, economics and social sciences rely on peer review to publish meaningful and original works. As the publishers note, peer-reviewed publications can gain readership on a global scale.

Professional Enhancement

Peer review allows professionals to find weaknesses in academic works. The authors of studies and articles can then strive to meet high publication standards. The continual attempt to meet these standards enables professionals and academics to challenge themselves and evolve in their abilities.

Publication can allow article authors to secure a stronger reputation, financial grants, employment opportunities or tenure.

Public Enhancement

The peer review process is viewed with esteem by readers. Browsers of publications and articles can rest assured that the content they are reading has been verified by field professionals. Peer-reviewed work meets high standards of quality and content.

The Relevance of Peer Review

Peer-review supporters at the Canadian Center of Science and Education note that reviewed publications remain essential to scholarly life. Peer-reviewed articles are trusted as dependable sources of information in a variety of professional fields.