Rude reviews are pervasive and sometimes harmful, study finds.

Abstract

Peer reviewers are supposed to ensure that journals publish high-quality science by evaluating manuscripts and offering suggestions for improvement. But often, referee comments stray far from that mission, found a new PeerJ study, which surveyed 1106 scientists from 46 countries and 14 disciplines. More than half of the respondents—who were promised anonymity—reported receiving at least one unprofessional review, and a majority of those said they had received multiple problematic comments. For example, one author received a review that stated: The phrases I have so far avoided using in this review are 9lipstick on a pig9 and 9bullshit baffles brains.9 Another reported receiving this missive: The author9s last name sounds Spanish. I didn9t read the manuscript because I9m sure it9s full of bad English. The study found such comments can have a negative impact on researchers, especially those from marginalized groups, including self-doubt and delayed career advancement.