Regression towards the mean—a plea for civility in peer review
Rahul Rao, Beth Bareham
Peer review is integral to the ongoing publication of high quality research. In pursuit of this aim, reviewers are expected to provide constructive feedback that helps authors improve their manuscripts. All too often, however, peer reviewers fall into the trap of harsh criticism rather than critical evaluation. Common pitfalls include reviews that are overly negative or incredibly brief, give little acknowledgment of the strengths of the manuscript, and use an unfriendly or insulting tone