Peer review: the nuts and bolts

This is a nuts and bolts guide to peer review for early career researchers written by members of the VoYS network.

Using a collection of concerns raised by their peers, the VoYS writing team set off to interview scientists, journal editors, grant bodies’ representatives, patient group workers and journalists in the UK and around the world to find out how peer review works, the challenges for peer review and how to get involved.

We have not avoided criticisms of the peer review process in this guide but rather entered into the debate, asking journal editors and reviewers some challenging questions about scientific fraud and plagiarism going undetected; issues of trust and bias; ground-breaking research taking years to publish and the system benefiting a closed group of scientists.

This guide will help early career researchers understand:

1. How the peer review process works

2. Some of the limitations of peer review

3. The role of peer review in society

Peer review: the nuts and bolts was launched in July 2012 at the EuroScience Open Forum in Dublin alongside a call from VoYS members to the Higher Education Funding Council of England to recognise reviewing as part of the Research Excellence Framework.

• Applications now open: 'Standing up for Science' media workshop at the Society of Biology in London on Friday 14th June. See the workshop flyer for further details and how to apply. Applications close 31st May 2013.

• VoYS is calling for supermarkets to put evidence at the heart of their policies. Read more about the ask for evidence 'negative claims' campaign or for details on how you can get involved email Victoria.

• The most recent Standing up for Science media workshop was on 15th March at the University of Manchester. See photos and comments from the day.

• Want to join the VoYS network? You can sign up here.