During peer review, grants are not judged in isolation, but as a group. By definition, half of all grants are below average. Although most scientific reviewers can agree on why a proposal is important and exciting, it is far more difficult to explain why we don’t like the others. The communication problems that plague many applicants in trying to describe the importance of their research also afflict many reviewers in trying to explain the converse.
Revised: July 1, 2009 |
Published: November 30, 2008
Citation
Wiley H.S. 2008.Peer review isn’t perfect But it’s also not a conspiracy.The Scientist 22, no. 11:31.PNNL-SA-63211.