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What makes a good peer-review report?

Reviewer reports may follow slightly different structures, however a good report on primary research should:

  • Include a brief summary of the manuscript and the methods used
  • Provide an opinion on the advance/interest the manuscript represents
  • Comment on whether the results were analyzed and interpreted correctly
  • Identify strengths, weaknesses and limitations of the study
  • If necessary, suggest further work to improve the manuscript, and in some cases extend the findings
  • If necessary, comment on whether the title, abstract, introduction and discussion are appropriate
  • If necessary, comment on whether the citations are appropriate

Note: This list represents recommendations not requirements.