Deep Dive: The benefits of expert peer review in research
Jun 21, 2024 |
7 Mins Read
What is peer review?
Peer review is the assessment of research papers by field experts, it is a collaborative process between research paper authors and field experts. The purpose of this process is to evaluate the quality of the research, suitability of publication, and acts as a rigorous quality control measure while also serving the author with valuable feedback.
Understanding peer review
The peer review process is vital to upholding the standard and quality of scholarly research, it also serves as an important support for authors. Peer reviews can alert authors to overlooked gaps in research and general errors as well. A survey conducted by sense about science found that 91% of respondents say their papers were significantly improved through peer review.
The different types of peer review
| Single-anonymous | Double-anonymous | Open |
| In this approach, reviewers are aware of the author’s identity; however, the author does not know the identity of the reviewer. This method is usually applied in science and medical journals | The double-anonymous process is when neither the author or reviewer is aware of each other’s identities, this is when utmost objectivity is achieved. This method is usually applied in fields of humanities and social sciences. | The open method does not have a singular definition, however, it is when the author and reviewer are aware of each other’s identities. Furthermore, once the paper is published, the reviewers names and reports are also present alongside the article. |
The benefits of peer review
- Ensures quality and accuracy
Peer review encourages authors to adhere to high standards in academic research, it stands to ensure only the best quality of research is disseminated. The process is designed to assess the validity, quality, and originality of submitted articles, hence filtering out those that are invalid. Furthermore, the reviewers are selected by journal editors that adhere to high standards and a comprehensive criteria to find the correct reviewer.
- Promotes objectivity and fairness
The double-anonymous method is the most reliable method to reduce bias as both parties are not aware of each other’s identity, the process is designed to tackle inequality in scholarly publishing as it reduces bias with respect to gender, race, country, origin or affiliation.
- Encourages scholarly collaboration
Peer reviews provide authors the platform to exchange ideas, methodologies, and findings while receiving insight from field experts, which enriches the academic landscape. It serves as a good networking opportunity and knowledge exchange. A taylor and francis study found that most researchers across all subject areas rated the contribution of peer review towards improving their articles as 8 or above, out of 10.
- Identifies and mitigates ethical issues
Peer review catches ethical considerations like plagiarism, data fabrication, and conflicts of interest. To ensure an ethical process takes place, all conflicts of interest should be disclosed and confidentiality should be maintained. Ethics ensure the responsible conduct of research by providing clear guidelines, while also monitoring researchers and practices to ensure everything meets ethical standards.
Find peer reviewed articles on Zendy
In this blog, we covered the various aspects of peer review by explaining the purpose of the process and the factors it is designed to consider; we also dove into the different types of peer review and closed off with the benefits. To continue your research, you can log in to zendy.io and access millions of credible peer reviewed papers across all disciplines.
Exploring the Journal of Marketing: A Trusted Source for Marketing Insights Since 1936
The 4th oldest primary peer-reviewed journal in marketing research articles, the Journal of Marketing, has been one of the top marketing journals since 1936. Over the years, JM is globally known for developing the latest solutions for real-world marketing problems. Its bimonthly marketing research articles are used by academics, professors, business managers, policymakers and end-users around the world. Sage Journals in Numbers In 1965, Sara Miller founded Sage with only $500 and a single-room office in NYC. Today, it has grown globally, based in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, and Washington DC. Sage has published over 1000 journals, known for its top marketing journals and as a leading journal covering many other disciplines, such as business and management, engineering, medicine, sociology and education. Journal of Marketing Impact Factor, CiteScore and H-index The true benefit of metrics is that they help you understand the level of influence a journal has. In the past, Impact Factor was the only way to evaluate the “impact” of a journal. Nowadays, there are several ways to measure the quality of a journal, including H-index and CiteScore. The Journal of Marketing has significant metrics compared to its peer marketing research articles. Top 5 Similar Journals to The Journal of Marketing Here are the top marketing journals that are similar to JM. AMAF Award 2024 Every year, the American Marketing Association Foundation (AMAF) awards the best research published in the Journal of Marketing with a notable contribution. This year's award went to How to SHIFT Consumer Behaviors to be More Sustainable: A Literature Review and Guiding Framework Published by Katherine White, Rishad Habib and David J. Hardisty. The criteria of selection are based on the originality of the article, its theoretical and practical contribution and its impact on addressing real-world problems. In conclusion, Since 1936, the Journal of Marketing has been a vital source of marketing, business management, and sales. JM has shaped marketing practices worldwide with its top marketing journals.
Journal of Environmental Management: Everything You Need to Know
The Journal of Environmental Management (JEM), started in 1973, is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published every two weeks. JEM is devoted to sharing high-quality research that directly impacts supporting natural resource management and providing practical solutions to improve environmental ecosystems. About the Publisher: Elsevier Journal of Environmental Management is edited, distributed, and published by Elsevier, a leading scientific publisher that has been supporting the global research sector and healthcare communities for 140 years, Elsevier's journals contributed over 17% to the total amount of research published around the world, with a record of 190,000 open-access articles. Areas of Interest JEM aims to improve knowledge and practices in environmental management. This includes Geography, Planning and Renewable Energy. It also covers Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Pollution, Ecology and Waste Management. These areas of focus create a thorough structure to address today's urgent environmental issues. The Journal of Environmental Management aims to push forward studies and insights in these fields helping to build a more sustainable tomorrow. Impact Factor, CiteScore, H-index Metrics of a scientific journal are important to measure the impact and the originality compared to other journals in the same field, these metrics are more than just statistics; they’re a testament to the journal’s contribution to the global scientific community. According to Clarivate Analytics, The Journal of Environmental Management has an impact factor of 8.0. In 2023, its CiteScore ranked 13.7 as Scopus reported, Additionally, JEM recorded an overall 243 H-index, based on Scimago’s data. Editorial Board JEM has 95 editors from around the world. Each section is led by an executive editor. The largest groups are: China: 32 members United States: 14 members United Kingdom: 8 members See full editors' members Similar Journals The infographic below shows the top 10 similar journals and their similarity percentage: Zendy: One Place for Every Research Discover Zendy, a leading AI-powered research library with millions of journals, research papers and publications. You can download and cite open-access and paywalled research, including the Journal of Environmental Management and its similar journals, all in one place. Furthermore, Zendy is equipped with AI features, such as ZAIA, your personal AI assistant for your next research, where you can chat with any academic journal. Also, ZAIA will extract, analyse, and summarise each section, including abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion and references. In conclusion: Whether you are a scholar in environmental science who seeks to publish your findings or you want to stay updated on the latest research, the Journal of Environmental Management can help you reach many researchers and practitioners in the field. Even a graduate or doctoral student studying environmental science or related fields can find this journal helpful. It offers current research and trends that are valuable resources.
A step-by-step guide to writing a research paper outline
A research outline guides the flow of the research paper, it is meant to ensure that the ideas, concepts and points are coherent and that the study and research has a well-defined point of focus. The outline sets guidelines for each section of the research paper, what it will address, explore and highlight. Working on a research paper outline is considered an important preliminary activity that improves the structure of the research paper, this is critical for categorising collected data. Think of it as a brainstorm session for your research paper that also implements effective time management. Understanding research paper outline A research paper ideally consists of 5 sections; abstract, introduction, body, conclusion and references. Each of these sections contributes to collating key information on the research design, in this section of the blog we dive into the purpose or each section. AbstractThe abstract sits on the first page of the research paper. It’s main purpose is to provide a brief overview of the paper by highlighting key findings, describing methodology, and summarising conclusive points.IntroductionThe introduction is crucial as it presents the research question, states the objectives or hypotheses, and outlines the scope and structure of the paper.BodyThe body of the research paper is where the content is discussed and highlighted. It can present detailed analysis, support arguments with evidence, address counterarguments and limitations, draw conclusions.ConclusionThe conclusion is a closing statement, it summarises the key findings, restates the aims and research question, reflects on the research process, discusses implications and contributions.ReferencesThe reference list is a crucial part of the paper, it ensures plagiarism is avoided, builds credibility, facilitates further reading to support claims and arguments. Step-by-step guide to conducting research outline Select a Topic: Choose a topic that aligns with your research requirements. Conduct Preliminary Research: Gather background information on your topic by reading through key scholarly articles, books, and credible online sources. Take notes on key ideas, findings, and arguments from reviewing the literature. Identify the Research Question or Thesis Statement: Formulate a focused research question or thesis statement that defines the purpose of your study. Create the Title: Write an informative title that accurately reflects the main topic and focus of your research paper. Write the Abstract: Summarize the objectives, methods, results, and conclusions of your research in a brief abstract. Develop the Introduction: Include background information to contextualize the research. Present the research question or thesis statement. Outline the scope and objectives of the study. Take the reader through the structure of the paper by mapping it out. Outline the Body: Organise and structure the main points and subpoints of your research. Ensure the content flows cohesively. Include supporting evidence, examples, data, or arguments. Craft the Conclusion: Summarise the key findings and insights. Highlight the thesis statement or research question. Discuss the implications of your findings and suggest methods for future research. End the conclusion by highlighting the significance of the study. Compile the References: Create a list of references following the appropriate citation style (e.g., Harvard, APA, MLA, Chicago). Ensure that all sources are accurately cited and formatted. Review and Revise: Review your research outline for coherence and clarity. Edit the outline as needed to improve organization, flow, and accuracy of information. Ensure the reference list follows the requirements of the correct format Research outline formats Traditional outline - Where thesis statement is provided at the end of the introduction, body paragraphs support thesis with research and a conclusion is included to emphasise key concepts of research paper. Alphanumeric outline - Outline format uses letters and numbers in this order: A, I, II, III Decimal outline - This format requires each main point to be labeled with a whole number, and each sub-point Conduct your research on Zendy Today As a thriving AI-powered academic research library, Zendy hosts a wide variety of academic research across various disciplines and branches of study. Draft your next or brush up your current research paper outline by skimming through the millions of credible resources Zendy offers! ul, ol { margin-top: 5px !important; margin-bottom: 5px !important; } p, ul, li, h1, h2, h4 { word-break: normal !important; } ol li ol { list-style: disc !important; margin: 5px 0 5px 15px !important; }