Reviewersuch

Reviewersuch, literally “reviewer search” in German, refers to the set of practices and tools used by publishers and platforms to identify qualified individuals to perform peer review of a manuscript or submission. It is a core component of the scholarly peer‑review process and aims to match submissions with reviewers who have relevant expertise, methodological skill, and the capacity to provide timely, constructive feedback.

Methods used in reviewersuch include manual literature searches for leading experts, examining author networks and citation relationships, consulting editorial boards and reviewer pools, and employing technology‑assisted matching in databases and platforms. Common sources include author records and databases such as ORCID, Publons, Scopus, and Web of Science. Some publishers also accept author‑suggested reviewers, subject to verification of qualifications and absence of conflicts of interest. Editors may combine these inputs with internal knowledge and recommendations from previous reviews.

The process typically involves editors assembling a candidate list, verifying qualifications and potential conflicts, and inviting reviewers. If invited reviewers decline, editors seek alternatives. In many journals, at least two independent reviews are desired, and the resulting evaluations contribute to editorial decisions and publication timelines. Policies on blinding, confidentiality, and reviewer anonymity vary by field and publisher.

Challenges and considerations include finding reviewers with appropriate expertise for niche topics, managing conflicts of interest, ensuring diverse and inclusive reviewer pools, addressing reviewer fatigue, and reducing long review times. Privacy, transparency, and incentive structures also influence how reviewers are identified and engaged.

See also: peer review, reviewer databases, author‑suggested reviewers, conflict of interest, editorial process.