Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35690782›Full record

ArticleBMC research notes2022

Is the future of peer review automated?

Robert Schulz, Adrian Barnett, René Bernard, Nicholas J L Brown, Jennifer A Byrne, Peter Eckmann, Małgorzata A Gazda, Halil Kilicoglu, Eric M Prager, Maia Salholz-Hillel and 6 more

Abstract readLetter
In one paragraph

Article in BMC research notes, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  20. Journal impact factors and the future of open access publishing.Journal of applied clinical medical physics · 2023
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Robert SchulzBIH QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Adrian BarnettAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health & Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
René BernardNeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Nicholas J L BrownDepartment of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden.
Jennifer A ByrneFaculty of Medicine and Health, New South Wales Health Pathology, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Peter EckmannDepartment of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Małgorzata A GazdaUMR 3525, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS, INSERM UA12, Comparative Functional Genomics group, Paris, France.
Halil KilicogluSchool of Information Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
Eric M PragerTranslational Research and Development, Cohen Veterans Bioscience, New York, NY, USA.
Maia Salholz-HillelBIH QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Gerben Ter RietFaculty of Health, Center of Expertise Urban Vitality, Amsterdam University of Applied Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Timothy VinesDataSeer Research Data Services Ltd, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Colby J VorlandIndiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA.
Han ZhuangSchool of Information Studies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Anita BandrowskiDepartment of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Tracey L WeissgerberBIH QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. tracey.weissgerber@bih-charite.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7490-2600

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia ID APP1184263
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The rising rate of preprints and publications, combined with persistent inadequate reporting practices and problems with study design and execution, have strained the traditional peer review system. Automated screening tools could potentially enhance peer review by helping authors, journal editors, and reviewers to identify beneficial practices and common problems in preprints or submitted manuscripts. Tools can screen many papers quickly, and may be particularly helpful in assessing compliance with journal policies and with straightforward items in reporting guidelines. However, existing tools cannot understand or interpret the paper in the context of the scientific literature. Tools cannot yet determine whether the methods used are suitable to answer the research question, or whether the data support the authors' conclusions. Editors and peer reviewers are essential for assessing journal fit and the overall quality of a paper, including the experimental design, the soundness of the study's conclusions, potential impact and innovation. Automated screening tools cannot replace peer review, but may aid authors, reviewers, and editors in improving scientific papers. Strategies for responsible use of automated tools in peer review may include setting performance criteria for tools, transparently reporting tool performance and use, and training users to interpret reports.

Indexed as

Editorial PoliciesPeer Review, ResearchResearch DesignResearch ReportAutomated screeningPeer reviewReproducibilityRigorTransparency

Identifiers

PMID35690782
PMCPMC9188010

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.