Improving peer-review by developing reviewers' feedback literacy

Abstract

There is a need to train journal peer reviewers to provide professional, constructive, and actionable feedback: i.e., develop their feedback literacy. Journals and publishers can improve the way they support peer reviewers' feedback literacy by raising awareness and providing guidance and exemplars of good practice. Existing online peer-review training resources developed by major publishers only focus on content of feedback but neglect the socio-emotional aspect of feedback. Resources to develop peer reviewers' feedback literacy should be formulated by adopting knowledge-based, skills-based, and community-based approaches.