In our newest “how can we help you?” thread, an early grad student writes:

I’m wondering how to decide whether to referee a paper. I just got my first request, and from what I can gather from the abstract, this doesn’t seem like an editorial call I’m particularly qualified to make. Would appreciate any thoughts.

This is a great query. Another reader (an editor) submitted the following reply:

Do not agree to referee a paper you believe you are not qualified to referee. Referees are to give their expert opinion – if you are not an expert, then your opinion is irrelevant.

I think this seems right as far as it goes (if a bit blunt!), but I’m curious whether we might be able to give the OP more helpful positive advice. How do you decide whether to review a paper? 

Originally appeared on The Philosophers’ Cocoon Read More