How to Peer-Review Research Papers for Postdocs/Research Staff (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)

Designed specifically for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) postdocs and researchers at an early stage of their career with little or no experience of reviewing manuscripts for journals. Focus is on subjects covered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.

The peer-review system helps to ensure the quality of published research. Journal editors are therefore reliant on experts who can deliver independant reviews in a timely fashion. The ability to review manuscripts should be a core skill of every researcher. But how long should you spend reviewing a manuscript? What should you write in your review? Find out with the results from a survey of 60 editors of AHSS journals.

By learning how to review research manuscripts for journals you will:

• gain a core skill that every AHSS researcher should have
• free up more time for your own research
• develop a better understanding of how to write your own manuscripts

Topics covered:

• how the peer-review system works
• about your responsibilities as reviewers
• what editors expect in a review
• how to critically evaluate a research manuscript
• what to include in written comments to editors and authors
• how long you should spend reviewing a manuscript
• practical methods for reviewing a manuscript quickly.

Postdoctoral Researchers/Research Staff in Arts and Humanities, and Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) with little or no experience of reviewing manuscripts.
Further details regarding eligibility criteria are here

Please see Course Description.

Workshop for a maximum of 30 participants A combination of lecturing, group exercises, discussions and hand-outs

• Dr David T Jones is a research biologist specialising in soil and invertebrate ecology
• After several postdoc contracts at the Natural History Museum and overseas, he is now a Research Associate at Imperial College London
• Over the last twelve years David has also been teaching a range of transferable skills to PhD students, postdocs and university staff on courses organised by Vitae (funded by Research Councils UK) and the British Council

For more details, please email Researcher Development

2 hour session

Termly