Fully open peer-review

Peer review in which revieewers and applicants know each other’s identities. This can extend to public sharing of peer review reports.
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Experiments in Assessment WG

Last updated

March 10, 2026

WarningObjectives and potential outcome

Some objectives and potential outcomes include: - Peer review can be recognised and rewarded - Greater responsibility of peer reviewers and accountability for the quality of their review - Opportunity to make peer review an educational experience (if reviews are shared publicly) - Possibility to monitor and ensure the openness of the diversity of reviewer pools - Potentially reduces number of appeals - Reduced competition in the research environment

Case: eLife https://elife-rp.msubmit.net/cgi-bin/main.plex?form_type=display_rev_instructions#process

Research domains

Context and considerations

Challenges and mitigations

**One challenge from open peer review is that it can reduce the honesty of reviewers who have concerns - make reviewers avoid raising issues, especially if the application is from someone renowned in their expertise.

Evaluating success

Relevant resources and literature

Templates from funders and institutions

Case examples and literature

Case: eLife https://elife-rp.msubmit.net/cgi-bin/main.plex?form_type=display_rev_instructions#process

Other resources

Comments/lived examples