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发信人: leader (kikizh), 信区: Physics 标题: About the review process in Physical Review and Physical Review Letters zz 发信站: BBS 珞珈山水站 (Tue Feb 19 19:30:08 2008) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) About the review process in Physical Review and Physical Review Letters (Revised 21 February 2007) Peer review by independent, anonymous referees is one of the most important re asons for the existence of a scientific journal. The journal reader benefits i n that at least one independent expert has judged the paper to be new and inte resting, to contribute to the advancement of the field, and to be without appa rent flaws. Of course, it is impossible for either the journal or the referee( s) to guarantee the correctness or the originality of the research. The author benefits from feedback regarding the research and style of presentation as we ll as from pride in a refereed publication. Because scientific research is a human enterprise we must all rely upon one an other, as authors and referees, to do our best. Below are some frequently aske d questions (FAQ) concerning the review process. For more information, please consult the Editorial Policies and Practices which are available via the journ al home pages and at http://authors.aps.org/. How are Referees Chosen? Can I Suggest Individuals to Review My Paper? Can I Exclude Individuals from Reviewing My Paper? How Many Referees Review My Paper? Are All Papers Reviewed by Referees? How Many Revisions Will I Have to Make? Can I Request Another Referee? Can a Referee Reject My Paper? What Should I Do When a Referee Criticizes My Paper? Why Does the Referee Ask Me to Cite so Many Papers? Why Does My Paper Sit in the Office so Long Without Any Apparent Activity? What Can I Do to Speed the Acceptance and Publication of My Paper? How Are Referees Chosen? Top The editors choose one or more referees from a common database of thousands of potential referees. This database has no borders between different areas of p hysics. The editors choose referees based on many factors including a referee' s area of expertise and availability (we try to avoid overburdening referees), quality of reports, and response time. Can I Suggest Individuals to Review My Paper? Top You most certainly can! In fact, it helps the editors if you suggest knowledge able individuals. However, generally, the editors will not select people who a re at the same institution as one of the authors; who have collaborated with t he authors; who are currently reviewing another manuscript or have reviewed on e very recently; or who have been overworked recently as a referee for APS jou rnals. Can I Exclude Individuals from Reviewing My Paper? Top You may send such a request when you submit your manuscript. Please give the n ames of a few specific people, not names of research groups, collaborations, o r institutions, and include a brief explanation. Such requests are generally h onored, but see also the response to the next question. How Many Referees Review My Paper? Top This varies somewhat among journals. For most papers, the editors choose one o r two persons (depending on the practice of the journal) to initially review y our paper. However, if it comments negatively on another published paper, then an author of that paper may be asked to provide a signed advisory opinion. In some cases, the editors may choose a different number of initial referees for reasons specific to the manuscript, e.g., the need for more than one type of expertise, uncertainty about the availability of a particular expert, etc. If a referee is tardy, the editors may choose an additional referee, and if the t ardy referee then responds, we may receive more anonymous reports than usual. If an impasse is reached between author and referee, then the editors may cons ult another referee in an effort to close the review process. This may happen at any time while the manuscript is under review. Are All Papers Reviewed by Referees? Top No. The editors reject some manuscripts which they judge to be clearly unsuita ble for the journal. However, no articles are accepted without review by exter nal referees. It is the editors' experience that even eminently suitable paper s can benefit from careful examination by an expert referee, who may help impr ove the clarity and impact of the paper. How Many Revisions Will I Have to Make? Top The editors seek to reach a final decision after one or two rounds of revision s and/or rebuttal. Can I Request Another Referee? Top Yes. Generally the handling editor will grant this request if he or she feels that an impasse has been reached. Since the referees are chosen because of the ir familiarity with the subject matter of the manuscript, it is important to r espond to their criticisms even if a different referee is to be consulted. The editors will generally not override a negative recommendation based on scient ific criticisms unless an expert referee so advises. Can a Referee Reject My Paper? Top No; only the editors can reject your paper. What Should I Do When a Referee Criticizes My Paper? Top Read the referee report carefully and dispassionately. Approach the report wit h an open mind. What may at first seem like a devastating blow is perhaps a re quest for more information or for a more detailed explanation. At other times the referee may indeed have found a fatal flaw in the research or logic. Put y ourself in the position of a reader, which is exactly the position of the refe ree. Is the paper well written? Is the presentation clear, unambiguous, and lo gical? Respond to all referee comments, suggestions, and criticisms. Explain w hich changes have been made and state your position on points of disagreement. In our experience, appropriate response to some referee comments may require more research or even reconsideration of the research project. Why Does the Referee Ask Me to Cite So Many Papers? Top Assign credit where credit is due. Not only is it proper and customary to cite previous work on the topic of your research, it also demonstrates your knowle dge of the subject. Moreover, it helps the less knowledgeable reader understan d the history of the subject and how your work contributes to the advancement of the field. Finally, since more and more papers are hyperlinked, more people can find your paper if you cite all relevant papers; eventually, your paper w ill be cited more often. Why Does My Paper Sit in the Office So Long Without Any Apparent Activity? Top Often this has nothing to do with your paper specifically but with a temporary overload of work for the editors and staff. Manuscript submissions follow a s easonal pattern with, for example, perhaps 20% more manuscripts submitted in J une or July than in January or February. This puts a large burden on the proce ss at a time when fewer referees, editors, and staff may be available due to s ummer travel. At other times of the year, some events, such as the leading ann ual meeting in the field of the journal (or journal section), may reduce the a vailability of referees and editors. We make every effort to handle manuscript s promptly but these large fluctuations in workload and availability cause occ asional delays. What Can I Do to Speed the Acceptance and Publication of My Paper? Top First and foremost, spend the time and effort to write a paper that is clear a nd grammatically correct. If English is not your native language, consider ask ing someone else to proofread your paper before submission. Triple-check the m anuscript before you submit it. Second, if you receive a referee report requesting changes, do your best to re spond to all of the points raised and detail the changes made in your resubmis sion letter. Take the comments and criticisms of the referee(s) very seriously . The referee is most likely one of your most interested readers. After you receive a referee report, respond to it quickly and accurately if yo u desire rapid acceptance. Finally, if you are a referee, please send in your referee report on another a uthor's paper as quickly as you wish another referee would review your own. -- 有限的生命，只读经典的文章 limited life for classic papers ※ 来源:·珞珈山水BBS站 http://bbs.whu.edu.cn·[FROM: 159.226.37.*]
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发信人: leader (kikizh), 信区: Physics
标题: About the review process in Physical Review and Physical Review Letters zz
发信站: BBS 珞珈山水站 (Tue Feb 19 19:30:08 2008)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
About the review process in Physical Review and Physical Review Letters
(Revised 21 February 2007)

Peer review by independent, anonymous referees is one of the most important re
asons for the existence of a scientific journal. The journal reader benefits i
n that at least one independent expert has judged the paper to be new and inte
resting, to contribute to the advancement of the field, and to be without appa
rent flaws. Of course, it is impossible for either the journal or the referee(
s) to guarantee the correctness or the originality of the research. The author
benefits from feedback regarding the research and style of presentation as we
ll as from pride in a refereed publication.

Because scientific research is a human enterprise we must all rely upon one an
other, as authors and referees, to do our best. Below are some frequently aske
d questions (FAQ) concerning the review process. For more information, please
consult the Editorial Policies and Practices which are available via the journ
al home pages and at

http://authors.aps.org/.

How are Referees Chosen?
Can I Suggest Individuals to Review My Paper?
Can I Exclude Individuals from Reviewing My Paper?
How Many Referees Review My Paper?
Are All Papers Reviewed by Referees?
How Many Revisions Will I Have to Make?
Can I Request Another Referee?
Can a Referee Reject My Paper?
What Should I Do When a Referee Criticizes My Paper?
Why Does the Referee Ask Me to Cite so Many Papers?
Why Does My Paper Sit in the Office so Long Without Any Apparent Activity?
What Can I Do to Speed the Acceptance and Publication of My Paper?
How Are Referees Chosen?    Top
The editors choose one or more referees from a common database of thousands of
potential referees. This database has no borders between different areas of p
hysics. The editors choose referees based on many factors including a referee'
s area of expertise and availability (we try to avoid overburdening referees),
quality of reports, and response time.

Can I Suggest Individuals to Review My Paper?    Top
You most certainly can! In fact, it helps the editors if you suggest knowledge
able individuals. However, generally, the editors will not select people who a
re at the same institution as one of the authors; who have collaborated with t
he authors; who are currently reviewing another manuscript or have reviewed on
e very recently; or who have been overworked recently as a referee for APS jou
rnals.

Can I Exclude Individuals from Reviewing My Paper?    Top
You may send such a request when you submit your manuscript. Please give the n
ames of a few specific people, not names of research groups, collaborations, o
r institutions, and include a brief explanation. Such requests are generally h
onored, but see also the response to the next question.

How Many Referees Review My Paper?    Top
This varies somewhat among journals. For most papers, the editors choose one o
r two persons (depending on the practice of the journal) to initially review y
our paper. However, if it comments negatively on another published paper, then
an author of that paper may be asked to provide a signed advisory opinion. In
some cases, the editors may choose a different number of initial referees for
reasons specific to the manuscript, e.g., the need for more than one type of
expertise, uncertainty about the availability of a particular expert, etc. If
a referee is tardy, the editors may choose an additional referee, and if the t
ardy referee then responds, we may receive more anonymous reports than usual.
If an impasse is reached between author and referee, then the editors may cons
ult another referee in an effort to close the review process. This may happen
at any time while the manuscript is under review.

Are All Papers Reviewed by Referees?    Top
No. The editors reject some manuscripts which they judge to be clearly unsuita
ble for the journal. However, no articles are accepted without review by exter
nal referees. It is the editors' experience that even eminently suitable paper
s can benefit from careful examination by an expert referee, who may help impr
ove the clarity and impact of the paper.

How Many Revisions Will I Have to Make?    Top
The editors seek to reach a final decision after one or two rounds of revision
s and/or rebuttal.

Can I Request Another Referee?    Top
Yes. Generally the handling editor will grant this request if he or she feels
that an impasse has been reached. Since the referees are chosen because of the
ir familiarity with the subject matter of the manuscript, it is important to r
espond to their criticisms even if a different referee is to be consulted. The
editors will generally not override a negative recommendation based on scient
ific criticisms unless an expert referee so advises.

Can a Referee Reject My Paper?    Top
No; only the editors can reject your paper.

What Should I Do When a Referee Criticizes My Paper?    Top
Read the referee report carefully and dispassionately. Approach the report wit
h an open mind. What may at first seem like a devastating blow is perhaps a re
quest for more information or for a more detailed explanation. At other times
the referee may indeed have found a fatal flaw in the research or logic. Put y
ourself in the position of a reader, which is exactly the position of the refe
ree. Is the paper well written? Is the presentation clear, unambiguous, and lo
gical? Respond to all referee comments, suggestions, and criticisms. Explain w
hich changes have been made and state your position on points of disagreement.
In our experience, appropriate response to some referee comments may require
more research or even reconsideration of the research project.

Why Does the Referee Ask Me to Cite So Many Papers?    Top
Assign credit where credit is due. Not only is it proper and customary to cite
previous work on the topic of your research, it also demonstrates your knowle
dge of the subject. Moreover, it helps the less knowledgeable reader understan
d the history of the subject and how your work contributes to the advancement
of the field. Finally, since more and more papers are hyperlinked, more people
can find your paper if you cite all relevant papers; eventually, your paper w
ill be cited more often.

Why Does My Paper Sit in the Office So Long Without Any Apparent Activity?
Top
Often this has nothing to do with your paper specifically but with a temporary
overload of work for the editors and staff. Manuscript submissions follow a s
easonal pattern with, for example, perhaps 20% more manuscripts submitted in J
une or July than in January or February. This puts a large burden on the proce
ss at a time when fewer referees, editors, and staff may be available due to s
ummer travel. At other times of the year, some events, such as the leading ann
ual meeting in the field of the journal (or journal section), may reduce the a
vailability of referees and editors. We make every effort to handle manuscript
s promptly but these large fluctuations in workload and availability cause occ
asional delays.

What Can I Do to Speed the Acceptance and Publication of My Paper?    Top
First and foremost, spend the time and effort to write a paper that is clear a
nd grammatically correct. If English is not your native language, consider ask
ing someone else to proofread your paper before submission. Triple-check the m
anuscript before you submit it.

Second, if you receive a referee report requesting changes, do your best to re
spond to all of the points raised and detail the changes made in your resubmis
sion letter. Take the comments and criticisms of the referee(s) very seriously
. The referee is most likely one of your most interested readers.

After you receive a referee report, respond to it quickly and accurately if yo
u desire rapid acceptance.

Finally, if you are a referee, please send in your referee report on another a
uthor's paper as quickly as you wish another referee would review your own.

--
有限的生命，只读经典的文章

limited life for classic papers

※ 来源:·珞珈山水BBS站

http://bbs.whu.edu.cn·[FROM: 159.226.37.*]

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