Guide for Paper Evaluation
In recent years, PWRD has seen increased authors and reviewers from various countries and diverse research cultures. Many of them have different opinions on what constitute a high quality paper. In order to enhance the consistency, effectiveness and transparency of paper review process, PWRD has adopted a rubrics-based paper review scheme. The rubrics clarify the characteristics of an acceptable paper and the focus of paper review. According to this scheme, a paper will be evaluated from the following four aspects:
- Quality of Subject: The specific problems/issues investigated by the paper must be meaningful and are not artificial. They are expected to have some technical significance to deserve investigation. In addition, the subject shall be relevant to the interest of PWRD reader community;
- Quality of Contribution: The paper must contain original contributions that are innovative and have a potential impact to academic research, industry application or both;
- Quality of Research: The research work conducted to support, validate, or demonstrate the paper’s contribution shall have certain degree of technical depth and scientific rigorousness;
- Quality of Presentation: The paper’s texts and illustrations shall be able to communicate the contents effectively;
Note that PWRD welcomes three types of papers (Research, Application and Review types). There are three sets of criteria each corresponding to one type of papers. The review guide can be found from this link: PaperReview-Guide
A key feature of this guide is that both authors and reviewers will know exactly how a paper should be evaluated. Feedbacks from PWRD community are welcome.
Remarks
- If a paper assigned to you is outside your expertise or you have not published journal grade papers, please do not feel that you are obligated to review. In fact, we recommend you decline such a review request. This approach is much better than providing an uninformed review since the editor could be misled by the comments and make wrong recommendations on the paper.
- If you cannot review a paper for whatever reasons, we appreciate you let the editor know immediately. This will enable the editor to find a new reviewer in a timely manner. It is totally okay to refuse a review request. It is unfair to the authors and editor if you don’t let the editor know your intention not to review.