This standard is not intended to exclude worthy innovations. Anonymous review, with multiple readers, should be used for each submission, except where explicitly waived. Judgments of the adequacy of an inquiry should be made by reviewers who are competent to read the work submitted to them. Editors should strive to select reviewers who are familiar with the research paradigm and who can make a fair judgment of the merit of the work. Editors should insist that even unfavorable reviews be dispassionate and constructive.
Authors have the right to know the grounds for rejection of their work.
NRC publications should have written, published policies for refereeing articles and proposals. NRC publications should have written, published policies stating when solicited and nonrefereed submissions are permissible. NRC publications should publish statements indicating any special emphases expected to characterize articles submitted for review. In addition to enforcing standing strictures against sexist and racist language, editors should reject articles that contain ad hominem attacks on individuals or groups or insist that such language or attacks be removed prior to publication. Editors of NRC publications should require authors to disclose the full publication history of material substantially similar in content and form to that submitted to other journals.