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SciPoll 729: Are you active in peer review?
What are the reasons you decline a peer review invitation?
Results
| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Frequently | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time constraints | 8.49% 32 | 15.12% 57 | 35.81% 135 | 40.58% 153 | 377 |
| Topic outside expertise | 3.97% 15 | 15.34% 58 | 38.36% 145 | 42.33% 160 | 378 |
| Too many other review commitments | 14.48% 52 | 25.07% 90 | 42.90% 154 | 17.55% 63 | 359 |
| Conflicts of interest | 44.38% 158 | 38.48% 137 | 8.71% 31 | 8.43% 30 | 356 |
| Paper quality concerns | 24.59% 90 | 27.32% 100 | 35.25% 129 | 12.84% 47 | 366 |
| Journal quality concerns | 17.12% 63 | 22.83% 84 | 35.60% 131 | 24.46% 90 | 368 |
| Other [please specify] | 64.66% 86 | 15.79% 21 | 13.53% 18 | 6.02% 8 | 133 |
Answer Explanations
- user-905834
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 1 0 0 0 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 Mostly, I will manage and complete my schedule; I am more concerned about the quality of publications. - user-673903
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 1 0 0 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Other [please specify] 0 0 1 0 When it appears the authors haven't even tried to write in coherent English. - user-287804
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 1 0 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Other [please specify] 0 0 1 0 For other: Contents is not of interest - user-882784
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 1 0 0 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Journal quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 Reviewers may decline invitations for several reasons, such as lack of time, conflicts of interest, or insufficient expertise on the subject matter. For example, a reviewer might not have enough time to thoroughly assess a manuscript due to personal or professional commitments. They might also decline if they have a conflict of interest, such as a personal relationship with the authors or financial ties to a competing organization. In some cases, a reviewer might feel that the manuscript is outside their area of expertise, and they may not feel qualified to provide a meaningful evaluation. - user-439026
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 0 1 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Other [please specify] 0 1 0 0 My preference in accepting of peer review is my fine specialty, parasitology - user-740731
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 0 0 0 1 Paper quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 0 0 1 Not in the exact field of expertise - user-832173
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 1 0 0 I don't like peer review out of the field of my expertise. - user-986977
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 0 0 1 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Other [please specify] 0 0 1 0 Renumeration - user-135565
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Other [please specify] 0 0 1 0 If the journal is unknown. - user-295767
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Other [please specify] I try not to refuse unless outside my area. - user-640046
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 0 1 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 0 0 1 Other: whether it is a journal in which I publish, or other particular journals that always desk-reject submissions - user-861466
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 1 0 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 0 1 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Other [please specify] Mainly time constraints. - user-676638
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 0 1 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 0 0 1 Unless and until some manuscript is scientifically too interesting for me, I usually decline review requests coming from commercial publishers, if they are not offering any honorarium. However I am still doing it for free, when the review requests come from journals published by some scientific society. - user-105846
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 1 0 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 In general, I accept the invitations of the papers concerned. - user-548125
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Other [please specify] first of all, I have too many of them, the issues often discussed are not familiar to me enough to be able to honestly review the work - user-84898
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 0 0 1 Scientists are generally quite overloaded with work and tasks, and finding time and energy to provide high-standard review of manuscripts is difficult and not easily prioritized, especially when there is usually no compensation at all. - user-962329
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 1 0 0 0 Topic outside expertise 1 0 0 0 Too many other review commitments 1 0 0 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 Never turn paper down. - user-961571
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 0 1 0 Clarity of title and abstract sometimes make me feel not interested in reviewing a paper. - user-103012
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 1 0 0 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Other [please specify] I rarely decline but does so only when there are too many other commitments - user-980558
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 1 0 0 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Other [please specify] I completed my last peer review within the past week and maintain an active review volume of more than 20 per year. I carefully select invitations that align with my expertise, and while I receive many requests annually, I accept those where I can offer meaningful, well-considered feedback—usually dedicating 4–8 hours to each review. I only occasionally decline invitations, primarily due to time constraints or if the topic falls outside my core areas of expertise, ensuring that every review I undertake is both thorough and valuable. - user-314109
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Journal quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 . - user-592268
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 1 0 0 when the article is out of my expertise - user-797353
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 0 1 Conflicts of interest Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Other [please specify] 0 0 0 1 I usually do reviews for journals where I am in their editorial board members. - user-226593
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Other [please specify] I declined 1 request due to the significant difference in field of expertise - user-123942
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 Quality of manuscripts are most important. - user-382369
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 0 1 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Other [please specify] 0 0 0 1 I do not want to continúe working free for editorials that mate me pay when I submit a paper. I consider it is not fair. - user-863596
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 1 0 0 Nothing more - user-577239
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 0 1 Conflicts of interest 0 0 1 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 0 0 1 Sometimes I'm asked to review a paper published on a paper I never heard of and I fear it is not really a paper but just a waste of time - user-846904
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 0 0 0 1 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 I think that, regardless of the publisher or the manuscript, every researcher should have the opportunity to publish an article and, therefore, receive a qualitative review before acceptance. - user-920339
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 0 1 0 I refuse to do reviews for journals who have as a deadline "within 10 days" or less. This includes top journals. - user-683654
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 1 0 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 1 0 0 I review those I consider come from very strong journals. Many journals are just out to make money. - user-485021
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 1 0 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest Paper quality concerns 0 1 0 0 Journal quality concerns Other [please specify] Sometimes I have multiple requests to review during the same period of time. Occasionally I receive the requests to review manuscripts which are not in my area of expertise. - user-558408
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 1 0 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 0 0 0 1 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 I only decline when there are conflicts and when I have time constraints. - user-427123
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 1 0 Conflicts of interest 0 0 0 1 Paper quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 0 0 1 0 I usually declined peer-review invitation due to irrelevant issues . - user-587566
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 0 1 Too many other review commitments 0 0 0 1 Conflicts of interest 0 0 0 1 Paper quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Journal quality concerns 0 0 0 1 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 Lack of Access to Essential Resources - user-71516
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 0 1 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 0 0 1 Conflicts of interest 0 1 0 0 Paper quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Other [please specify] NA - user-333723
Never Rarely Sometimes Frequently Time constraints 0 0 1 0 Topic outside expertise 0 0 1 0 Too many other review commitments 0 1 0 0 Conflicts of interest 1 0 0 0 Paper quality concerns 1 0 0 0 Journal quality concerns 0 0 1 0 Other [please specify] 1 0 0 0 I decline a peer review invitation when I have too many other review commitments, time constraints due to personal or professional obligations, or if the manuscript falls outside my area of expertise. Additionally, I may decline if I identify a conflict of interest that could compromise the integrity of the review process or if the manuscript lacks fundamental scientific rigor and requires extensive revisions before a fair evaluation can be conducted.
user-272415
02/13/2025 06:26user-496176
02/26/2025 06:54user-763126
02/27/2025 05:49