Decoding Peer Review: A Guide to Reviewing Social Science Research Manuscripts

Are you a faculty member, staff researcher, or graduate student looking to enhance your peer review skills? Do you find reviewing to be challenging or time-consuming? Join us at the Center for Social Science Innovation for a workshop on best practices for reviewing manuscripts in the social sciences!

This 90-minute workshop will provide you with practical guidance on assessing research quality, offering constructive feedback, and making meaningful contributions to the academic peer review process. By the end of the session, you will be equipped with tools to write clear, constructive, and impactful manuscript reviews efficiently. The workshop will focus on empirical research using either qualitative or quantitative designs.  

Workshop Topics: 

  • Criteria for evaluating research quality 
  • Ethical responsibilities of peer reviewers 
  • Identifying strengths and weaknesses in a manuscript 
  • Principles of a constructive peer review 
  • Practical strategies for structuring your review effectively 

Seating is limited. Early registration is recommended! Register for the workshop here

Presenters:

  • Mark Berg, Director, Center for Social Science Innovation and Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology 
  • Julianna Pacheco, Professor, Department of Political Science, and Researcher Affiliate, Center for Social Science Innovation 
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 2:30pm to 4:00pm
Social Sciences Research Building
Lower-level meeting room (SSRB 008)
605 East Jefferson Street, Iowa City, IA 52245
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Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Gabriella Snyder in advance at (319) 335-6800 or gabriella-snyder@uiowa.edu.