Research on Research Institute
Browse

RoRI Insights: Applicants as reviewers - a Guide to Distributed Peer Review

Download (1.33 MB)
report
posted on 2025-06-09, 15:48 authored by Research on Research Institute (RoRI)Research on Research Institute (RoRI), Tom StaffordTom Stafford, Stephen PinfieldStephen Pinfield, Anna ButtersAnna Butters, Melanie Benson MarshallMelanie Benson Marshall

Distributed Peer Review is a model in which applicants to a funding call also serve as reviewers for that call. Each applicant is required to review proposals from other applicants, creating a scalable, reciprocal system of assessment.

DPR has the potential to create a review system that is faster, more scalable, and fairer than traditional panel-based peer review.

This guide, developed through RoRI's AFIRE programme, brings together lessons from funders who have trialed DPR, offering:

  • a clear checklist for implementing DPR
  • guidance on evaluation, feedback, and platform setup
  • an overview of how DPR differs from conventional review processes, with advice on navigating risks and challenges

Funding

RoRI’s second phase (2023–2027) is funded by an international consortium of partners, including: Australian Research Council (ARC); Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Digital Science; Dutch Research Council (NWO); Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation [Grant number GBMF12312; DOI 10.37807/GBMF12312]; King Baudouin Foundation; La Caixa Foundation; Leiden University; Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR); Michael Smith Health Research BC; National Research Foundation of South Africa; Novo Nordisk Foundation [Grant number NNF23SA0083996]; Research England (part of UK Research and Innovation); Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC); Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF); University College London (UCL); Volkswagen Foundation; and Wellcome Trust [Grant number 228086/Z/23/Z].

History

Usage metrics

    Research on Research Institute

    Categories

    Keywords

    distributed peer reviewpeer reviewresearch fundingresearch assessment

    Licence

    CC BY 4.0

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC