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Notes on being a reviewerNotes on being a reviewer

George Starkschall, PhD

Editor-in-Chief, JACMP

George Starkschall, PhD

Editor-in-Chief, JACMP

General commentsGeneral comments

• Consider the invitation to review an

honor.

• Be willing to spend some time on the

review.

• Respond promptly to the request to

review.

• Consider the invitation to review an

honor.

• Be willing to spend some time on the

review.

• Respond promptly to the request to

review.

General commentsGeneral comments

• When you commit to the review, you

are committing to see the review through to its completion.

• Review the manuscript in a timely manner.

• Do not be intimidated by the author.

• Respect confidentiality.

• When you commit to the review, you

are committing to see the review through to its completion.

• Review the manuscript in a timely manner.

• Do not be intimidated by the author.

• Respect confidentiality.

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Doing the review - GeneralDoing the review - General

• Do an initial read of the manuscript.

– Is the writing in clear English

• Consider the target audience.

– Knowledgeable medical physicist, not necessarily the expert

• Do an initial read of the manuscript.

– Is the writing in clear English

• Consider the target audience.

– Knowledgeable medical physicist, not necessarily the expert

Doing the review - GeneralDoing the review - General

• Does each part of the paper actually accomplish what it is intended to do?

– Abstract

– Introduction

– Methods & Materials

– Results

– Discussion

– Conclusions

• Does each part of the paper actually accomplish what it is intended to do?

– Abstract

– Introduction

– Methods & Materials

– Results

– Discussion

– Conclusions

Doing the review - SpecificDoing the review - Specific

• Go through the manuscript again

with the fine-toothed comb.

• Be thorough with your review.

– No need to raise additional points on second round review

• Identify each location where you

recommend a change.

• Go through the manuscript again

with the fine-toothed comb.

• Be thorough with your review.

– No need to raise additional points on second round review

• Identify each location where you

recommend a change.

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3

Doing the review - SpecificDoing the review - Specific

• Do not go into details of grammar

unless the violations interfere with the actual information presented

• Do not go into details of grammar

unless the violations interfere with the actual information presented

In conclusionIn conclusion

• Be civil in your review.

• Make specific recommendation

regarding the manuscript

– Accept as is

– Accept with minor revisions

– Accept with major revisions

– Reject

• Be civil in your review.

• Make specific recommendation

regarding the manuscript

– Accept as is

– Accept with minor revisions

– Accept with major revisions

– Reject

Thank you