A Method for Improving the Integrity of Peer Review

Sci Eng Ethics. 2018 Oct;24(5):1603-1610. doi: 10.1007/s11948-017-9960-9. Epub 2017 Aug 15.

Abstract

Peer review is the most important aspect of reputable journals. Without it, we would be unsure about whether the material published was as valid and reliable as is possible. However, with the advent of the Internet, scientific literature has now become subject to a relatively new phenomenon: fake peer reviews. Some dishonest researchers have been manipulating the peer review process to publish what are often inferior papers. There are even papers that explain how to do it. This paper discusses one of those methods and how editors can defeat it by using a special review ID. This method is easy to understand and can be added to current peer review systems easily.

Keywords: Academic ethics; Academic misconduct; Fabricated peer review; Fake peer review; Integrity of peer review; Peer review.

MeSH terms

  • Deception*
  • Fraud / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Peer Review
  • Peer Review, Research / ethics*
  • Publishing / ethics
  • Research Personnel
  • Scientific Misconduct*