Effects of reviewers' gender on assessments of a gender-related standardized manuscript.

Background: Several factors including reviewers' gender can influence the assessment of submitted manuscripts.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effects of reviewers' gender on the assessment of a gender-related study.

Method: One hundred reviewers (50 women) were randomly selected from Academic Medicine's reviewer pool.

Roles for scientific societies in promoting integrity in publication ethics.

Scientific societies can have a powerful influence on the professional lives of scientists. Using this influence, they have a responsibility to make long-term commitments and investments in promoting integrity in publication, just as in other areas of research ethics. Concepts that can inform the thinking and activities of scientific societies with regard to publication ethics are: the "hidden curriculum" (the message of actions rather than formal statements), a fresh look at the components of acting with integrity, deviancy as a normally occurring phenomenon in human society, and the scientific community as an actual community.

Impartial judgment by the "gatekeepers" of science: fallibility and accountability in the peer review process.

High publication demands and the low acceptance rate of peer review journals place the journal editors and their reviewers in a powerful position. Journal reviewers have a vital role not only in influencing the journal editor's publication decisions, but also in the very nature and direction of scientific research. Because of their influence in peer review outcomes, journal reviewers are aptly described as the "gatekeepers of science.