"A Standard Taxonomy for Peer Review" is a groundbreaking system designed to bring clarity and transparency to the peer review process in scholarly publishing. As an initiative of the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM), this taxonomy aims to help researchers understand what to expect when submitting their papers to journals.
The taxonomy begins with identity transparency. In single-anonymized reviews, reviewers know the authors' identities, but the authors do not know the reviewers. Double-anonymized reviews ensure that neither party knows the other's identity, while open reviews mean both authors and reviewers are aware of each other's identities.
Review reports transparency is another crucial component. Closed reviews keep the reports confidential between the authors and reviewers, while open reviews make these reports publicly available alongside the published article. The timing of reviews can also vary, with pre-publication reviews occurring before the article is published and post-publication reviews happening afterward, allowing for community feedback. Reviewer interaction can be either independent or collaborative, depending on whether reviewers work alone or engage in discussions.
The taxonomy also addresses the number of reviewers, which can range from a single reviewer to multiple reviewers providing a broader range of feedback. Reviewer selection methods include editor-selected, author-suggested, or self-selected, where reviewers volunteer to review. The portable review feature allows reviews to be transferred to another journal if the paper is rejected, saving authors time and effort. Editorial decision-making can be editor-led or community-led, involving a broader group in the process. Finally, transparent review history ensures that the entire review process is visible, promoting openness and accountability.
This standardized taxonomy makes the peer review process more understandable and predictable, enhancing the overall publishing experience for researchers and contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Click here for the Japanese version.