Become a reviewer

Are you interested in peer reviewing manuscripts for psychology journals?

APA Publishing sets standards for research in psychology, and peer reviewers strengthen the field by ensuring that published research meets these standards. The contributions of reviewers’ time and expertise are vital to the publication process and integrity of psychological science.

As a reviewer, you will also gain valuable publishing experience and connect with experts in your field.

Journal editors are always seeking to expand their reviewer pools. APA welcomes professionals of all career levels to submit their CVs for consideration by our editors.

Become a Revieweropens in new window

While the final decision on a manuscript rests with the editor, reviewer feedback is critical to their decision-making. Reviewers contribute to several important aspects of the publishing process, including:

• Helping authors improve their manuscripts by identifying strengths and areas for improvement​ in manuscripts.
• Providing actionable feedback for editors to incorporate into their decision letters.
• Contributing to the editor’s determination of an article's suitability for publication​.
• Upholding excellence and integrity of science and published research​.
• Reporting ethical concerns to editors.

Reviewers may not have expertise in the overall topic of a manuscript but can lend feedback on areas that fall within their specialty, or their methodological or statistical expertise. For suggestions on framing a review around your specific area of expertise, visit our Reviewer Resource Center.

Editors rely on the assessment of experts in the field to determine if manuscripts should be accepted for publication—but participating in the peer review process has several benefits for reviewers, too. As a reviewer, you may:

• Gain valuable experience in the peer review and publishing process that can be added to your CV.
• Connect with experts in the field, including guest editors leading special issues and sections on important topics.
• Improve the quality and integrity of research before it is published.
• Stay up to speed on current research.
• Improve your own writing and research skills, and gain insight into what editors and peer reviewers look for in submissions.
• Build connections as part of a journal’s community, including opportunities for editorial board membership.
• Record and showcase your review history on the Web of Science Reviewer Recognition platformopens in new window and ORCIDopens in new window if you review for APA Journals.
• Mentor graduate students and early career faculty/researchers in the journal review process as you gain review experience.

Every reviewer starts somewhere—and there is a high demand for peer reviewers across psychology. Review experience may be obtained in a variety of ways, so be sure to:

• Seek opportunities to co-review or participate in journal reviewer mentorship programs. Many APA journals encourage current reviewers to involve graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, or early career psychologists in the process of evaluating submissions and writing reviews. If you are interested in gaining experience, consider reaching out to colleagues who serve as reviewers to ask if they'd be open to mentoring you through a review.
• Network with colleagues who are on editorial boards—they can introduce you to the editorial team or suggest you as an alternate reviewer if they decline an invitation
• Develop knowledge of recently published research​ and stay up to speed on research through resources like APA PsycAlerts and APA’s Monitor on Psychology.
• Publish your own work
• Reach out to editors and include an updated CV with your areas of expertise
• Ask a colleague or mentor to invite you to co-review manuscripts
• Attend How to Review workshops and sessions, such as those offered at APA Convention or virtually through professional associations or institutions
• Ensure your profiles on public platforms (e.g., ORCID, Web of Science) are up-to-date, especially with your recent publications and expertise
• Keep your profiles on journal submission platforms updated with your institution, contact information, and areas of expertise—if you have authored a paper for a journal, this is an excellent way for editors to find and invite you to review

Editors of APA Journals generally consider the following when selecting reviewers:

• Be a published author.
  Reviewers should have publishing experience, as authors and/or reviewers for peer-reviewed journals. Publishing experience provides a reviewer with the basis for preparing a thorough, objective review; but reviewers with limited experience are still encouraged to apply and can seek training on preparing high-quality reviews. If you are new to peer review, visit the APA Reviewer Resource Center.
• Keep up with the latest research.
  Reviewers should be readers of journals they are interested in reviewing for. It is critical to be a regular reader of the five to six journals that are most central to the area or journal(s) for which you would like to review. Current knowledge of recently published research provides a reviewer with the knowledge base to evaluate a new submission within the context of existing research.
• Update your expertise in Editorial Manager.
  If you are invited to serve as a reviewer, you will be asked to complete a profile identifying your areas of expertise in APA’s peer review system, Editorial Manager. This will help the editorial team match you with papers that best fit your interests and expertise.
• Allot the necessary time.
  Reviewing a manuscript takes time (about 1–4 hours per manuscript reviewed). If you are selected to review, please be prepared to invest the necessary time to evaluate the manuscript thoroughly.