What is the primary responsibility of a reviewer during the review process?

The primary responsibility of a reviewer during the review process is to behave professionally. This encompasses a range of responsibilities that contribute to the integrity and quality of the peer review process. Professional behavior includes providing constructive feedback, maintaining confidentiality, and offering an impartial assessment of the manuscript. Reviewers must approach their reviews with respect for the authors and the scientific process, ensuring that their evaluations are fair, equitable, and based on the merit of the work presented.

While helping authors edit their manuscripts or focusing solely on their specific interest areas may be part of a reviewer's role, these aspects do not capture the essential duty of maintaining professionalism throughout the review process. Accepting all submissions is not a responsibility of the reviewer, as reviewers must evaluate the submission critically rather than accept everything unconditionally. Thus, behaving professionally serves as the foundation upon which the entire reviewing process relies, fostering a culture of respect and constructive criticism within the academic community.