Getting Published

How important peer review is to you aligns with your reasons for publishing.  Peer review is not the same as editing.  Most published material goes through a form of editing that ensures the material is organised and clearly presented.  Peer review is the process of evaluating and validating the research.  Peer review is carried out by a recognised expert, or experts, within the field.  There are several different types of peer review.

• Single-blind review.  The author identity is known to the reviewer, but the author doesn’t know who the reviewer is.
• Double-blind review.  Both the reviewer and the author identity remain unknown to each party.
• Open review.  Both the reviewer and the author are known to each other.

Peer review is not a perfect system.  For example, in single-blind or double-blind review, there is a chance that, because the reviewers are unknown to the author, their criticism of the work may be unduly harsh.  Also, if a paper was made available on a pre-print server, it may be impossible to maintain the anonymity of an author.  Open review could also make reviewers less likely to criticise material for fear they will be challenged or criticised by other experts in the field.

You will not be able to choose the type of review that your material will undergo, but you should be aware of the process. The publisher, Wiley  provides useful information on the peer review process and how to become a peer reviewer.