How does transparent peer review compare to open peer review?

Great question! While transparent peer review and open peer review are related, they are not exactly the same. Here’s a simple breakdown of how they compare:

Here is a structured comparison of Transparent Peer Review and Open Peer Review:

1. Transparent Peer Review

• Definition: The peer review process is visible to the public, meaning reviewer reports, editorial decisions, and author responses are published alongside the article.
• Reviewer Identity: May be anonymous or disclosed, depending on the journal’s policy.
• Key Benefits:
• Enhances research credibility and trust.
• Allows readers to understand the review process.
• Provides educational value to researchers and authors.
• Examples: Used by journals like Nature Communications, BMJ, and platforms such as Scholar9 and OJSCloud for journal management.

2. Open Peer Review

• Definition: A broader term that includes various open review practices, such as:

1. Open Identities – Reviewers’ names are disclosed.
2. Open Reports – Review comments are publicly available.
3. Open Participation – Anyone can contribute to the review process.

• Reviewer Identity: Typically revealed to promote accountability.
• Key Benefits:
• Encourages responsible reviewing.
• Allows wider participation and input.
• Supports transparency in scientific discourse.
• Examples: Used by platforms like F1000Research, eLife, and journals hosted on OJSCloud, which supports open review workflows.

Comparison Table

Key Takeaway

• Transparent Peer Review focuses on making the review process visible while keeping reviewer identities optional.
• Open Peer Review goes a step further by revealing reviewer identities and sometimes allowing community participation.