International Journal of Ethology - Reviewer Guidelines
Standards for constructive and ethical peer review
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining International Journal of Ethology quality.
Reviews should focus on methodological rigor, clarity of reporting, and relevance to animal behavior science.
Feedback should be specific, respectful, and aimed at improving manuscript quality.
Reviewers should report ethical or integrity concerns confidentially to the editorial office.
Comment on originality, methodology, and whether conclusions are supported by the data.
Prioritize major validity issues first, then note secondary improvements for clarity and structure.
Reviewers should assess study design, statistics, and data transparency.
Confidentiality must be maintained for all manuscripts and review content.
Declare conflicts of interest and decline reviews when appropriate.
Timely reviews support efficient editorial decisions.
Evaluate originality, relevance, and contribution to ethology knowledge.
Check that methods are sufficiently detailed to allow replication.
Assess statistical reporting and whether conclusions align with data.
Identify missing citations or relevant literature when appropriate.
Flag ethical issues, consent concerns, or data integrity risks.
Provide constructive, specific recommendations rather than general criticism.
Reviewer Quick View
- Assess design and statistics
- Evaluate originality and scope
- Maintain confidentiality
- Declare conflicts of interest
- Provide constructive feedback
- Submit reviews on time
- Flag ethics concerns
- Use evidence based comments
Review Best Practices
Structured feedback improves author experience and editorial decisions.
Structured Feedback
Organize comments by major and minor issues.
Evidence Based
Tie recommendations to data and methodology.
Professional Tone
Provide respectful, constructive critique.
Confidentiality
Do not share manuscript content or review details.
Review Focus
Prioritize these areas during assessment.
| Focus | What to Check | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Methods | Design and statistics | Reproducibility |
| Data integrity | Consistency with results | Check figures |
| Clarity | Conclusions match data | Suggest improvements |
Reviewer Callouts
Confidentiality and integrity are critical to peer review.
Protect Manuscripts
Do not share manuscript content or use it for personal research.
Declare Conflicts
Decline reviews when conflicts of interest are present.
Review Focus Areas
Key areas reviewers should address.
Scientific Quality
Evaluate study design, statistics, and conclusions.
Ethical Compliance
Confirm approvals and consent where required.
Clarity
Check whether conclusions reflect the data presented.
Confidentiality
Maintain confidentiality of manuscript content and review details.
Important Points
- Decline reviews if conflicts of interest or time constraints exist.
Join Our Reviewer Panel
Support ethology research by contributing your expertise as a reviewer.
For assistance, contact us at [email protected]
