| A good reviewer should possess the following characteristics: |
| Should have published original research articles himself/herself. |
| Needs to be knowledgeable in his/her own field/area of expertise, needs to keep updated with the current literature, needs to possess critical thinking ability and should have expertise in the field in which the paper has been submitted. |
| Needs to have a sound understanding of basic medical statistics and epidemiology. |
| Should have reviewed for other journals (preferable). |
| Provides a constructive, objective, fair, thorough, honest, and polite review. |
| Has time and inclination/aptitude to review papers and is quick to respond to review requests from the editors. |
| Is ready to work as a reviewer without expecting any rewards/returns (i.e., work voluntarily and without any honorarium i.e., altruistic nature) in the best interest of advancing science. |
| Should be able to adapt to the changing landscape in publishing and keep updated with the latest trends in the publication process. |
| Can identify own/personal biases and minimize them. |
| Acts as an “ally” or a “friend” or an “advocate” of the author and help the authors in improvising the manuscript (irrespective of the final outcome of acceptance or rejection by the journal). |
| Has good knowledge of English language and grammar. |
| Has good “academic ethics”. |
| Comes from a top academic institution with “publishing culture”. |
| Can maintain a balance between quality control and encouragement of innovation. |
