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A paper review I've undertaken turning out to be harder than expected
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I recently agreed to review a journal paper. After I started to read it in depth, I found out it is much harder than I expected - over 60 pages with over 20 theorems with detailed proofs. Also, the topic is not exactly my expertise - I do not know a lot of the related works that the authors base their results on.
So far, I managed to verify about 10 of the shorter theorems. They seem correct, though I have some minor comments. The other theorems seem so long and complex that it will take me weeks to review, especially if I would need to read and understand the theorems in the cited papers that these theorems are based on. What should I do?
I thought of writing to the editor and explaining the situation in detail. Maybe the editor will be able to find another reviewer that will verify the other theorems. But I do not know how such letter will be perceived. In particular:
- Is it common for a reviewer to review only a part of the paper, and leave the rest of the paper to other reviewers?
- On the other hand: is it my duty, as a reviewer, to complete my review, regardless of how much time it takes?
peer-review ethics
edited 17 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
asked 3 hours ago
Erel Segal-Halevi
6,19793867
add a comment |Â
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
I recently agreed to review a journal paper. After I started to read it in depth, I found out it is much harder than I expected - over 60 pages with over 20 theorems with detailed proofs. Also, the topic is not exactly my expertise - I do not know a lot of the related works that the authors base their results on.
So far, I managed to verify about 10 of the shorter theorems. They seem correct, though I have some minor comments. The other theorems seem so long and complex that it will take me weeks to review, especially if I would need to read and understand the theorems in the cited papers that these theorems are based on. What should I do?
I thought of writing to the editor and explaining the situation in detail. Maybe the editor will be able to find another reviewer that will verify the other theorems. But I do not know how such letter will be perceived. In particular:
- Is it common for a reviewer to review only a part of the paper, and leave the rest of the paper to other reviewers?
- On the other hand: is it my duty, as a reviewer, to complete my review, regardless of how much time it takes?
peer-review ethics
edited 17 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
asked 3 hours ago
Erel Segal-Halevi
6,19793867
2
Typical reviewing times vary a lot between pure math, different parts of applied math, CS, etc. What (sub)field does the journal live in?
– user37208
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
up vote
11
down vote
favorite
I recently agreed to review a journal paper. After I started to read it in depth, I found out it is much harder than I expected - over 60 pages with over 20 theorems with detailed proofs. Also, the topic is not exactly my expertise - I do not know a lot of the related works that the authors base their results on.
So far, I managed to verify about 10 of the shorter theorems. They seem correct, though I have some minor comments. The other theorems seem so long and complex that it will take me weeks to review, especially if I would need to read and understand the theorems in the cited papers that these theorems are based on. What should I do?
I thought of writing to the editor and explaining the situation in detail. Maybe the editor will be able to find another reviewer that will verify the other theorems. But I do not know how such letter will be perceived. In particular:
- Is it common for a reviewer to review only a part of the paper, and leave the rest of the paper to other reviewers?
- On the other hand: is it my duty, as a reviewer, to complete my review, regardless of how much time it takes?
peer-review ethics
edited 17 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
asked 3 hours ago
Erel Segal-Halevi
6,19793867
I recently agreed to review a journal paper. After I started to read it in depth, I found out it is much harder than I expected - over 60 pages with over 20 theorems with detailed proofs. Also, the topic is not exactly my expertise - I do not know a lot of the related works that the authors base their results on.
So far, I managed to verify about 10 of the shorter theorems. They seem correct, though I have some minor comments. The other theorems seem so long and complex that it will take me weeks to review, especially if I would need to read and understand the theorems in the cited papers that these theorems are based on. What should I do?
I thought of writing to the editor and explaining the situation in detail. Maybe the editor will be able to find another reviewer that will verify the other theorems. But I do not know how such letter will be perceived. In particular:
- Is it common for a reviewer to review only a part of the paper, and leave the rest of the paper to other reviewers?
- On the other hand: is it my duty, as a reviewer, to complete my review, regardless of how much time it takes?
peer-review ethics
peer-review ethics
edited 17 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
asked 3 hours ago
Erel Segal-Halevi
6,19793867
edited 17 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
asked 3 hours ago
Erel Segal-Halevi
6,19793867
edited 17 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
edited 17 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
edited 17 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
21k132125
asked 3 hours ago
Erel Segal-Halevi
6,19793867
asked 3 hours ago
Erel Segal-Halevi
6,19793867
asked 3 hours ago
Erel Segal-Halevi
6,19793867
6,19793867
2
Typical reviewing times vary a lot between pure math, different parts of applied math, CS, etc. What (sub)field does the journal live in?
– user37208
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2
Typical reviewing times vary a lot between pure math, different parts of applied math, CS, etc. What (sub)field does the journal live in?
– user37208
3 hours ago
2
2
Typical reviewing times vary a lot between pure math, different parts of applied math, CS, etc. What (sub)field does the journal live in?
– user37208
3 hours ago
Typical reviewing times vary a lot between pure math, different parts of applied math, CS, etc. What (sub)field does the journal live in?
– user37208
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
Is it common for a reviewer to review only a part of the paper, and leave the rest of the paper to other reviewers?
I have done that on at least two occasions. Sometimes it is the only honest option.
On the other hand: is it my duty, as a reviewer, to complete my review, regardless of how much time it takes?
Not really. It is commonly considered a duty of a career mathematician to contribute to peer review of mathematical works (at least) proportionally to their own publishing. Whether you achieve this by refereeing some really tough papers or a lot of simple ones is up to you.
answered 2 hours ago
darij grinberg
1,6931817
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Consult the editor
Adding to @darijgrinberg's answer: Consult with the journal's editor(s) before making any decisions.
They might:
- Tell you more about what's common in a situation such as the one you're in.
- Possibly decide they want to switch reviewers or divvy up the review work
- Tell you what they expect from you, ethically.
- Pressure you into continuing (not such a great outcome - but I have to add this in fairness)
Don't feel awkward or inappropriate about taking this up with the editors, it's the responsible thing to do.
answered 13 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
Is it common for a reviewer to review only a part of the paper, and leave the rest of the paper to other reviewers?
I have done that on at least two occasions. Sometimes it is the only honest option.
On the other hand: is it my duty, as a reviewer, to complete my review, regardless of how much time it takes?
Not really. It is commonly considered a duty of a career mathematician to contribute to peer review of mathematical works (at least) proportionally to their own publishing. Whether you achieve this by refereeing some really tough papers or a lot of simple ones is up to you.
answered 2 hours ago
darij grinberg
1,6931817
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
Is it common for a reviewer to review only a part of the paper, and leave the rest of the paper to other reviewers?
I have done that on at least two occasions. Sometimes it is the only honest option.
On the other hand: is it my duty, as a reviewer, to complete my review, regardless of how much time it takes?
Not really. It is commonly considered a duty of a career mathematician to contribute to peer review of mathematical works (at least) proportionally to their own publishing. Whether you achieve this by refereeing some really tough papers or a lot of simple ones is up to you.
answered 2 hours ago
darij grinberg
1,6931817
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
up vote
10
down vote
Is it common for a reviewer to review only a part of the paper, and leave the rest of the paper to other reviewers?
I have done that on at least two occasions. Sometimes it is the only honest option.
On the other hand: is it my duty, as a reviewer, to complete my review, regardless of how much time it takes?
Not really. It is commonly considered a duty of a career mathematician to contribute to peer review of mathematical works (at least) proportionally to their own publishing. Whether you achieve this by refereeing some really tough papers or a lot of simple ones is up to you.
answered 2 hours ago
darij grinberg
1,6931817
Is it common for a reviewer to review only a part of the paper, and leave the rest of the paper to other reviewers?
I have done that on at least two occasions. Sometimes it is the only honest option.
On the other hand: is it my duty, as a reviewer, to complete my review, regardless of how much time it takes?
Not really. It is commonly considered a duty of a career mathematician to contribute to peer review of mathematical works (at least) proportionally to their own publishing. Whether you achieve this by refereeing some really tough papers or a lot of simple ones is up to you.
answered 2 hours ago
darij grinberg
1,6931817
answered 2 hours ago
darij grinberg
1,6931817
answered 2 hours ago
darij grinberg
1,6931817
answered 2 hours ago
darij grinberg
1,6931817
1,6931817
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Consult the editor
Adding to @darijgrinberg's answer: Consult with the journal's editor(s) before making any decisions.
They might:
- Tell you more about what's common in a situation such as the one you're in.
- Possibly decide they want to switch reviewers or divvy up the review work
- Tell you what they expect from you, ethically.
- Pressure you into continuing (not such a great outcome - but I have to add this in fairness)
Don't feel awkward or inappropriate about taking this up with the editors, it's the responsible thing to do.
answered 13 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Consult the editor
Adding to @darijgrinberg's answer: Consult with the journal's editor(s) before making any decisions.
They might:
- Tell you more about what's common in a situation such as the one you're in.
- Possibly decide they want to switch reviewers or divvy up the review work
- Tell you what they expect from you, ethically.
- Pressure you into continuing (not such a great outcome - but I have to add this in fairness)
Don't feel awkward or inappropriate about taking this up with the editors, it's the responsible thing to do.
answered 13 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Consult the editor
Adding to @darijgrinberg's answer: Consult with the journal's editor(s) before making any decisions.
They might:
- Tell you more about what's common in a situation such as the one you're in.
- Possibly decide they want to switch reviewers or divvy up the review work
- Tell you what they expect from you, ethically.
- Pressure you into continuing (not such a great outcome - but I have to add this in fairness)
Don't feel awkward or inappropriate about taking this up with the editors, it's the responsible thing to do.
answered 13 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
Consult the editor
Adding to @darijgrinberg's answer: Consult with the journal's editor(s) before making any decisions.
They might:
- Tell you more about what's common in a situation such as the one you're in.
- Possibly decide they want to switch reviewers or divvy up the review work
- Tell you what they expect from you, ethically.
- Pressure you into continuing (not such a great outcome - but I have to add this in fairness)
Don't feel awkward or inappropriate about taking this up with the editors, it's the responsible thing to do.
answered 13 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
answered 13 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
answered 13 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
answered 13 mins ago
einpoklum
21k132125
21k132125
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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2
Typical reviewing times vary a lot between pure math, different parts of applied math, CS, etc. What (sub)field does the journal live in?
– user37208
3 hours ago