Lectures

Rationale

Peerspectives begins with a series of four lectures to provide an overview of the publishing system and editorial processes, and lay the theoretical foundation required to conduct high quality peer review. This knowledge will then be applied in the workshops under the guidance of a workshop mentor.

Format

The lecture block of Peerspectives is structured into 4 lectures, with each session lasting 3 hours (including breaks). The 3-hour format provides enough time for instructors to introduce new topics, recap material from the previous session, and discuss take-home assignments with participants, in addition to allowing opportunities for group discussions.

The lecture structure is adaptable in (1) the number of sessions, and (2) the duration of each lecture. This flexibility enables instructors to tailor the course to different target audiences, time constraints and teaching preferences. Lecture topics can be grouped as needed to create sessions of different lengths, ensuring that the material fits the available time schedule.

Lecture topics

The content of the lectures is based on:

• First-hand experience of the course creators as authors, peer reviewers and journal editors
• Discussions with colleagues
• The BMJ Reviewer training materials
• Experience from The BMJ
• Science Editors’ Handbook
• Scientific publications, commentaries, and opinion pieces about peer review

The topics covered in each of the four lectures are outlined below. These topics can be adjusted, rearranged, or combined as needed, depending on lecturer availability or the instructor’s preferred teaching approach.

1. Introduction to the roles of journals, editors, and peer reviewers [Slides]
   1. Course overview [Slides] [Recording]
   2. Getting to know you [Slides] [Recording]
   3. Role of journals [Slides] [Recording]
   4. Role of editors [Slides] [Recording]
   5. Role of peer review(ers) [Slides] [Recording]
   6. Reliability and biases, review types, & improving quality of peer review [Slides] [Recording]
2. Peer review conduct and how to write a helpful, useful review [Slides]
   1. Sex, gender, & diversity considerations in peer review  [Slides] [Recording]
   2. Lecture 1 wrap-up + review of take-home assignment #1  [Slides] [Recording]
   3. Peer review conduct and writing tips [Slides] [Recording]
   4. Guidelines for peer review: style and approach [Slides] [Recording]
   5. Writing a good review [Slides] [Recording]
   6. More tips + recommendations for peer reviewing [Slides] [Recording]
3. Publish or perish? A cornucopia of contributions and credit, productivity,publication ethics, and open science [Slides]

3.1 Lecture 2 recap + review of take-home assignment #2 [Slides] [Recording]

3.2 Credit for contributions to research [Slides] [Recording]

3.3 Measures of scientific productivity [Slides] [Recording]

3.4 Predatory journals [Slides] [Recording]

3.5 Ethical guidelines for peer review (COPE) [Slides] [Recording]

3.6 Recap: Lecture 2 (continued) [Slides] [Recording]

3.7 Open science [Slides] [Recording]

1. From theory to practice - Review procedure & walk-through [Slides]

4.1 From theory to practice: live walk through of a peer review [Slides] [Recording]

4.2 Lecture 3 recap [Slides] [Recording]

4.3 The peer review procedure: from start to finish [Slides]

• Note: No recording available due to confidentiality agreement with journal partner

4.4 Final workshop preparations and assignment of workshop leaders [Slides] [Recording]

4.5 Generative AI in peer review [Slides] [Recording]

4.6 Last words [Slides] [Recording]

	Suggested Lecture Title with links to the complete lecture slides	Suggested Lecture Topics with links to slides for individual topics
Lecture 1	Introduction to the roles of journals, editors, and peer review(ers)	Course overview Getting to know you Role of journals Role of editors Role of peer review(ers) Reliability and biases, review types, & improving quality of peer review
2	Peer review conduct and how to write a helpful, useful review	Sex, gender, & diversity considerations in peer review Lecture 1 wrap-up + review of take-home assignment #1 Peer review conduct and writing tips Guidelines for peer review: style and approach Writing a good review More tips + recommendations for peer reviewing
3	Publish or perish? A cornucopia of contributions and credit, productivity,publication ethics, and open science	Lecture 2 recap + review of take-home assignment #2 Credit for contributions to research Measures of scientific productivity Predatory journals Ethical guidelines for peer review (COPE) Recap: Lecture 2 (continued) Open science
4	From theory to practice - Review procedure & walk-through	From theory to practice: live walk through of a peer review Lecture 3 recap The peer review procedure: from start to finish Final workshop preparations Generative AI in peer review Last words

Tips

Before each lecture

• Check to ensure that the online lecture link was sent to all course participants
• Check to ensure that the lecture link works correctly