Table 6: Highest scoring questions based on R-scores.
In assessing the lowest mean R-scores across all Essential Areas (Table 7) neither Ethics or Integrity featured in the lowest five. The lowest rated Ethics question was Q24, ‘Do you check images for inappropriate manipulation?’ (41st; mean R-score = 1.42). The lowest rated Integrity question was Q4, ‘Do you explain to reviewers how their contribution is used to decide whether to publish the manuscript?’ (40th; mean R-score = 1.46). Of the five questions with lowest R-scores, none has a system solution. For example, submission systems do not currently have an automated way to present key editorial metrics to authors (Q49, Table 7).
Question Essential Area Mean R-Score
49. Do you share with authors key editorial metrics such as median time to decisions and acceptance rates? Timeliness 1.30
13. Do you discourage reviewers from raising unreasonable additional issues at re-review? Fairness 1.29
15. Do you attempt to manage the effects of implicit bias in peer review, related to the nationality, religious or political beliefs, gender or other characteristics of the authors? Fairness 1.27
29. Do you collect and declare potential conflicts of interest for your editors on the journal website? Fairness 1.23
19. Do you seek feedback from reviewers about the editorial process, and act on that feedback? Usefulness 1.22
Table 7: Lowest scoring questions based on R-scores.