Peer review is the process of evaluating academic, scientific, or professional work. It is ubiquitously used by academic journals to support research integrity by filtering out invalid or poor-quality articles, as well as to ensure that research outcomes are exposed to relevant audiences through their publication in relevant journals. As such, it is a crucial process in scholarly communication and a pillar of the scientific method.  

Over recent decades, a significant number of new peer review models have been introduced (most notably for open review), but they have not been accompanied by the development of a clear and consistent nomenclature, leading to confusion. There is also increased support for more openness and transparency in science and research, including peer review, in order to maintain trust in the scholarly ecosystem.

Against this background, in 2019, STM (the International Association of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Publishers) recognized the need to support the community in ensuring greater transparency and openness in peer review, which is an essential element of open research. An STM Working Group was formed to harmonize and create improved definitions of discrete elements of these processes, so that members of the community—whether they be authors, reviewers, editors or readers—can quickly and easily recognize how they may more productively participate in the creation and qualification of scholarly content.

This work was brought to NISO for standardization in 2021 at the same time as a pilot program was underway at several publishers.  The pilot program, as well as a NISO public comment period, led to various adjustments, resulting in the formal ANSI/NISO standard, Z39.106-2023, Standard Terminology for Peer Review.

The NISO Peer Review Terminology Standing Committee is now pleased to be supporting this work, providing publicity and further information, answering any questions, and serving as a general community resource for adoption.