Overview
Articles published by Common Ground Research Networks are two-way-blind peer-reviewed. The publisher, editors, reviewers, and authors agree on the standards of expected ethical behavior based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices. Please review our Publishing Ethics Guidelines for further information on policies and practices.
After peer review has been completed, the author and CGRN Journal Publishing Team will have an opportunity to rate the review in terms of its completeness and helpfulness for revisions following our rubric. We encourage authors to be respectful and fair with their rating. This rating system is meant to help encourage and guide reviewers to improve feedback practices and to acknowledge the importance of critical and constructive reviews.
Reviewers who provide complete and constructive reviews will be given a certificate for their valuable contribution. Reviewers who successfully complete six reviews in a year will be considered for inclusion in a Research Network Editorial Board
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Sign in to CGPublisher
Click the link in the Peer Review Request email. Follow instructions to sign in to CGPublisher with your CGScholar account information.
Step 2: Download the Manuscript for Review
Once you have signed in, you will see the Peer Review Forms, Tasks/Queries, and Documents tabs. Click the Documents tab and download the Manuscript for Review.
Step 3: Review the Manuscript and Complete the Peer Review Form
Click the Peer Review Forms tab. Click the Confirm button (or Decline button if you cannot complete the review). Read the manuscript and fill out each section of the Peer Review Form as instructed.
Step 4: Submit the Completed Peer Review Form
Click the Submit button at the bottom of the Peer Review Form. The CGRN Journal Publishing Team will evaluate your review. If your review does not meet our requirements, you may be asked to make revisions. Reviewers who provide complete and constructive reviews will receive a certificate.
If you have any questions, you can communicate with a Publishing Admin via the Task/Query tab.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a Peer Reviewer? Sign into CGPublisher with your CGScholar account information. Once you have signed in, select Become a Peer Reviewer in the left-hand navigation. Please update your Affiliations, Peer Review Preferences, and Interests to ensure that we assign you manuscripts that fit your time constraints and field of study.
How much time do I have to review each manuscript? Reviewers are given two weeks to complete peer-review assignments. Extensions are usually available on request. If an extension is not requested and your report is overdue, you will be withdrawn.
How do I contact the CGRN Journal Publishing Team? If you are unable to complete the review, need an extension, or need other assistance, please create a query. To do so, you will need to sign into CGPublisher, select Peer Reviewer in the left-hand navigation, and click on the title of the assigned manuscript. Scroll down to the Tasks/Queries and Documents tab at the bottom of the screen. Click the New Query button.
What if the manuscript I am reviewing seems well-researched and meets the evaluation criteria but does not read fluently in English? Our publishing model is intended to ensure that authors speaking English as a second language are given the equal opportunity to receive feedback from a peer review process to critique and improve the conceptual material of their manuscripts. Evaluate the text for its conceptual material and indicate in Section 5 of the Peer Review Form if you believe professional editing for English fluency is required.
How do I find my certificate? Once you have signed into CGPublisher, go to Archived then Completed Peer Reviews in the left-hand navigation. Select the manuscript and scroll down to Tasks/Queries and Documents tabs. Select Documents to find your certificate.
How do I join a Research Network Editorial Board? Reviewers who successfully complete six reviews in a year will be considered for inclusion.