Open peer review
Open peer review
Reviewer Resources > Ethics and transparency in peer review > Open peer review
Learn about the practice and benefits of open peer review, and steps to completing an open, signed, or published peer review.
What does it mean to practice open peer review?
Open practice peer review is a broad term that encompasses any peer review model in which aspects of the process are made publicly available, either before or after publication.
For example, open peer review models may include any of the following transparent practices, either alone or in combination:
- publishing peer review content
- open commenting from the wider community
- open discussion between authors, editors and reviewers
- open review before publication through preprints
- post-publication commenting
- sharing author or reviewer identities
- decoupling the peer review process from the publication process
It is important to treat each attribute of transparent review separately, since each can have a different impact on the author, reviewer, and reader experience. Here, we will be talking primarily about publishing peer review content, as well as touching lightly on signed reviews.
Published peer review history
Published peer review history collects the correspondence exchanged during the peer review possess—including decision letters from each revision, complete with both editorial feedback and peer reviews, and the authors’ responses to reviewers—and makes it available alongside a published research article as a permanent part of the scientific record. PLOS authors can opt-in to publish their peer review history once their article is accepted for publication. If the reviewers have chosen to sign their review, their names will appear alongside their comments. If not, the reviews will appear anonymously.
The value of published peer review
Enriching the scientific record
Published peer review helps contextualize research and gives readers the benefit of additional expert opinions. Letting readers see the questions reviewers raised and how the authors mitigated them gives insight into the limits of the study. Publishing peer reviews also reinforces the validity of the article by exposing the rigorous vetting process it has undergone prior to publication.
Honoring reviews and reviewers
Choosing to publish peer reviews acknowledges the value of review, and the vital role that it plays in scientific communication by making it a permanent part of the scientific record. Offering reviewers the opportunity to sign is just one of several ways for them to claim credit for their work.
Educational tools
Making peer review publicly available creates a database of examples for students to reference as they begin to participate in peer review.
How do I complete an open, signed, or published peer review?
First, decide where you stand. Take some time to review the research, talk to colleagues you respect, and consider whether you want to sign your reviews as a general principle.
The practical aspects of completing a peer review remain the same, regardless of the review model a particular journal might happen to employ. There are three key stages to completing a peer review, open or otherwise.
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