HOW TO PEER REVIEW

Peer reviewing is an art form which we embrace at IJESPORTS through a semi-structured approach. Here is a suggested step by step process for reviewing an article:
  • Familiarise yourself with our author guidelines and policies, this ensures that it follows the standards set for publication:
  • Ensure that you can complete the review at a reasonable time frame on accepting the opportunity (usually within 2 weeks). This ensures that decisions on articles and therefore publications at a timely pace.
  • We recommend reading the article once in full and then analysing it carefully in the following order (as appropriate): Ideal order for reviewing original research articles
    Figure 1 - Ideal order for reviewing original research articles.

    Ideal order for reviewing review articles
    Figure 2 - Ideal order for reviewing review articles.
  • The background should provide the reader with a foundational understanding of the subject matter and appreciate the rationale for the study whilst ensuring the following:
    • References for the background are reasonably recent and appropriately applied.
    • Avoids major digression from the subject matter
  • The methods should give the reader a clear understanding of how the authors conducted the study whilst ensuring that any listed results could be obtained with the methodology described. The statistical methods utilised should be appropriate to the data obtained from the study, ideally with the software and version type utilised mentioned.
  • The results should be presented clearly with reasonably easy to understand figures and tables whilst ensuring the following:
    • Language around significant changes is validated with p values
    • Notable results that would be expected from the methodology have not been omitted
    • All figures and tables have a legend/caption/title above or below the object and must be referenced in the article text, for example:
      • We have discovered that the heart rate is significantly greater during gameplay amongst all age groups (figure 1).
    • Legends must be sequentially numbered
    • Axes are well defined
    • Any abbreviations are expanded in the legend
  • The discussion should expand on the results with logical explanations whilst ensuring the following:
    • References for explanations are used appropriately
    • The section does not overly expand into unrelated areas
    • Limitations of the study are described
  • The main content within the review article should be appropriately sub categorised with a clear rationale for focus and explanation of propositions.
  • The conclusion is based on the results or review findings and is not over generalised.
  • The abstract summarises the article for the reader to have a clear understanding of the rational, findings and conclusion of the article.
  • The highlights give the reader a clear appreciation of the primary rationale, findings and potential impact of the study.
  • The references follow the accepted styles of the journal and do not contain obvious mistakes or duplication.
  • Check that any supplementary is appropriate and adds value to the article.

In general, the article should be organised and flow in a logical manner. The English utilised should clear and succinct, please feel free to highlight any grammatical or spelling issues. As IJESPORTS is an international journal thus we accept both USA and UK English. The overall impression of the article is the most important. It should add understanding to the existing body of literature in the area and please note that IJESPORTS is a proponent of publishing negative finding studies.

The peer reviewer must make one the following recommendations and give feedback for the decision:

  • Accepted for publication
  • Recommended for publication if minor corrections are made
  • Recommended for publication if major corrections are made
  • To be considered for publication in another journal
  • Rejected for publication

The recommendation alongside the feedback will be passed on to the editor and editorial board for an overall decision to be made.

IJESPORTS gives peer reviewers the opportunity to include the name and affiliation on publication of the article. There is also the possibility of publishing the peer reviewer comments in selected articles as a separate publication. Please make your interest in having your name/affiliation as well as comments published clear in the feedback section.

Below is a suggested framework for the report given back to the editors following peer review: 

Dear Sir/Madam,
I have been able to review the article titled XX.
This article explores XX
I have the following positive comments to make XX
I have noted some areas that require improve as following:
    • Major issues - XX
    • Minor issues - XX
My overall recommendation is XX
With thanks,
XX

We hope you have found this IJESPORTS guide to peer reviewing helpful. Below are some useful external resources:

We recommend that you utilise reviewer appreciation services such as PUBLONS to add further value to your contribution.