Academic Peer Review

Learning Goals

In this workshop, you will get insights on

• how to conduct thorough, constructive, and fair peer reviews; 
• understand the ethical responsibilities that come with the reviewer role; 
• navigate the tension between objectivity and subjectivity in evaluation; 
• give feedback that genuinely improves a manuscript rather than simply gatekeeping it;
• and recognize and address the common biases and challenges that shape review outcomes.

Content

Peer review serves as the primary way an academic community ensures quality, yet few are formally trained in it. While doctoral and postdoctoral researchers are expected to review competently once they get their first invitation, the skill is seldom taught explicitly; it is mostly learned by observing how others review their own papers. This workshop intends to address this gap.
Reviewing well isn't the same as reviewing critically. A critique that only lists flaws without guiding the author toward improvement misses its true goal: enhancing the scholarship, regardless of publication outcome. Conversely, avoiding tough judgments out of politeness harms the field just as much. This workshop views reviewing as a craft balancing these extremes, focusing on how to distinguish main issues from stylistic choices, structure feedback for actionable results, and craft recommendations that editors trust. Special attention is given to the dilemmas involved – confidentiality, conflicts of interest, handling misconduct, and resisting the use of reviews to push personal agendas. We will also explore biases such as status effects, confirmation bias, and unfair judgments of unfamiliar methods. 

Place and time

Friday, 20 November 2026 | 15:00-17:00 (online)

Trainer

Florian Krause (2024 Top Reviewer, Journal of Business Ethics)

Target Group

Targeted at doctoral candidates and early-career researchers new to reviewing or preparing to review, the session combines practical review strategies with examples so participants can prepare for their next review.

Register here

Registration is open until 9 November 2026.