First read-through
- Is it clear what the authors want to communicate and the direction of the manuscript?
- Is it reporting original research or is it another type of article? How does this change your report?
- What contribution does the article make to the field of study?
- Is the manuscript original?
- Is the overall study design and approach appropriate?
- Are you concerned about the language? Are revisions needed to make it possible to review?
Detailed review – Research articles
Title
- Does it express clearly what the manuscript is about?
- Does it highlight the importance of the study?
- Does it contain any unnecessary description?
Abstract
- Is it a short and clear summary of the aims, key methods, important findings and conclusions?
- Does it include enough information to stand alone?
- Does it contain unnecessary information?
Introduction
- Does it clearly summarize the current state of the topic?
- Does it address the limitations of current knowledge in this field?
- Does it clearly explain why the study was necessary?
- Does it clearly define the aim of the study and is this consistent with the rest of the manuscript?
- Is the research question clear and appropriate?
Methods
- Are the study design and methods appropriate for the research question?
- Is there enough detail to repeat the experiments?
- Is it clear how samples were collected or how participants were recruited?
- Is there any potential bias in the sample or in the recruitment of participants?
- Are the correct controls/ validation included?
- Are any potential confounding factors considered?
- Has any randomization been done correctly?
- Is the time-frame of the study sufficient to see outcomes?
- Is there sufficient power and appropriate statistics?
- Do you have any ethical concerns?
Results
- Are the results presented clearly and accurately?
- Do the results presented match the methods?
- Have all the relevant data been included?
- Is there any risk of patients or participants being identified?
- Is the data described in the text consistent with the data in the figures and tables?
Discussion and conclusion
- Do the authors logically explain the findings?
- Do the authors compare the findings with current findings in the research field?
- Are the implications of the findings for future research and potential applications discussed?
- Are the conclusions supported by the data presented?
- Are any limitations of the study discussed?
- Are any contradictory data discussed?
Tables and figures
- Are data presented in a clear and appropriate manner?
- Is the presentation of tables and figures consistent with the description in text?
- Do the figure legends and table headings clearly explain what is shown?
- Do the figures and tables include measures of uncertainty, such as standard error or confidence intervals, where required as well as the sample size?
- Do you have any concerns about the manipulation of data?
References
- Are there any key references missing?
- Do the authors cite the initial discoveries where suitable?
- Are there places where the authors cite a review but should cite the original paper?
- Do the cited studies represent current knowledge?
Final checks – before you submit your report
- Have you given a brief summary of the article and highlighted the key messages?
- Have you given positive feedback as well as constructive criticism?
- Have you made it clear which of your concerns are major (significant points, essential for publication) or minor (smaller issues, may not be essential for publication)?
- Are your concerns specific, with examples where possible?
- Have you numbered your comments and referred to page/ line numbers in the article to make it easy for the authors to address your points?
- Is your feedback constructive, and focused on the research?
- If you were the authors, would you understand how to improve the manuscript?
- If you were the Editor, would the comments be detailed enough to help you make a decision?
- Have you checked the spelling and grammar in your report?
- Have you included your comments in the correct places in the online system – checking that any confidential comments for editors are in the right place – and have you answered all the questions?
Peer review of non-research articles
Many of the same questions will be relevant to all articles. However, articles which do not present original research are unlikely to have a methods section and results but may be more focused on the discussion of a topic. Check the article type and journal requirements if you are unsure.
Here are some questions to consider for some non-research article types.
Systematic reviews
- Are the search terms and inclusion/ exclusion criteria clearly described?
- Are the search terms and criteria correct to ensure all the relevant articles are included?
- If a meta-analysis has been done, were previous studies combined appropriately?
Case reports
- Does the diagnosis appear to be correct?
- Was the treatment reasonable for the diagnosis?
- Are the treatment and outcomes clearly described?
- As far as possible, is the patient anonymous?
- Are the conclusions reasonable and not attempting to generalize to wider population?
Methodology articles
- Is the new method clearly described?
- Is it possible to replicate the new method?
- Is there a rationale for why the new method is needed?
- Is the new method compared to existing approaches?
- Usually there should not be any experimental results, other than to demonstrate the utility of the methods.
Review articles
- Is there any content which has been previously presented in a review?
- Does it focus on recent advances in research?
- Is it a balanced and unbiased overview of current understanding?
- Are any recent or important references missing?
- Is it too focused on the author’s own research?
- Is the interpretation and presentation of results of previous studies accurate and precise?
- Has it a valuable contribution to the research field?
- Is it understandable for non-expert readers?
Opinion articles (also called Editorials or Commentaries)
- Does the article add to the discussion on a research topic?
- Is the opinion of the author well-argued?
- Is the opinion based on current knowledge, or if it makes a big leap from current knowledge then is this logical? What supports the opinion presented?
Download the Review Checklist in PDF.