How the PROM Process Works

‘PROM’ (short for: ‘peer-review in open media’) works by PSI inviting and engaging independent third party input in the peer-review process. This is achieved by first publishing a nominally approved draft proposal of a submitted science paper onto our website. Anyone may submit any science paper to PSI for peer-review although we do give priority to PSI members. At this stage there will be a preliminary internal review by our reviewing team to ensure elementary due diligence.

The submitted paper shall then appear on the PSI website in the drop down menu at the top of the screen marked ‘PROM.’ (see image below)

PROM papers are made distinct from fully-approved PSI peer-reviewed papers (with their blue front covers) by their distinctive red-toned front cover. In the drop down menu all PROM draft papers will remain available freely to anyone who visits the website. At this stage we invite comments from anyone, PSI members as well as non-members. On occasions we will announce, by way of a press release, the posting of a particularly interesting PROM paper to encourage wider interest and scrutiny.

All papers will then stay open to public review as a designated PROM PAPER for a minimum period of one month (there is no set maximum time limit as to how long any paper may remain in PROM review process). During the period of review we especially encourage an open discussion thread to operate within the “comments” section of any articles(s) specific to such matters. We prefer these open review methods rather than private emails. Throughout the PROM process the author(s) of the paper should endeavor to make themselves available to publicly reply to comments left for them.

Ideally, we encourage feedback on the paper’s comment area which provides a more tightly focused discussion of all PROM papers. Such transparency and demonstration by authors to engage in open discussion will enable the PSI’s senior review team to better referee the science being put forward. For any commenters who are not PSI members but who wish to provide feedback by email, then any such comments may be submitted here. Such submitted email comments may then be posted manually on the discussion thread (or relevant article comments sections) by our web team, or if requested, submitted only to the author and/or senior review team.

Upon such feedback the PSI internal reviewers will conduct ongoing re-assessment of the paper taking into account any and all such comments until such time as a final determination of the paper’s merits may be made. The senior review team will then recommend, and PSI shall authorize, either publication of the paper in full with the PSI final seal of approval; or we will suggest revisions so that the author may make appropriate amendments, or, if serious and intractable errors are found a paper may be recommended to be rejected outright.

At the satisfactory completion of this stage all such papers will either be promoted to our body of approved papers (indicated by the attachment of blue cover) or the paper’s author will be advise to re-submit a revised draft into the PROM system for a further supplemental review process. If any author declines to amend PROM papers to the satisfaction of the senior review team then PSI reserves the right to reject the paper outright. At this point, the decision of the senior review team becomes final; authors submitting to the PROM process being bound to agree that PSI retains the right to such final determination. Thereafter, unsuccessful authors are entirely free to submit their papers to other journals.

Reviewers’ Status, Recognition and Remuneration

PSI encourages our appointed reviewers to permit their names and credentials to appear with any paper they formally review. To compensate our assigned reviewers for their time PSI may allocate to them either financial compensation or a ‘PSI credit’ of a nominal value until such time as it can be monetized or exchanged for another PSI service of similar value. Please note: submitting authors are not required to contribute financially, but we do encourage voluntary donations. However, where appropriate PSI does request that authors publish acknowledgments with a message of thanks to the reviewers.

In short, the PROM process aims to be flexible, adaptive and economical to ensure that each submitting author is fully availed of all comments received. Such comments will be openly posted below the published draft upon editorial inspection.

Our editing team will see to it that the comments process is not abused and will retain the right to delete and/or amend any comments that are inappropriate (by reviewer’s discretion). The process allows PSI and the submitting author full control to choose to amend/remove his/her PROM paper and retain editorial privileges. The outcome will thus be the product of internal and external review presented professionally and respectfully in a public arena.

It is hoped that PROM review will stimulate productive discussion on emerging new science and elicit the most helpful constructive feedback possible in both time and cost-effective terms. Of course, like any pioneering process the PROM method may be adapted as we go and we hope authors will work with us if there are any required modifications, with the understanding that our desire is to make constant improvements.

Finally, PSI is committed to sharing with authors responsibility to publish to our highest standards while meeting the falsifiability criterion extolled by Karl Popper and the transparency and verifiability requirements of the scientific method. Please join with us to pursue this honorable goal for the furtherance of better science.

PRINCIPIA SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL, legally registered in the UK as a company incorporated for charitable purposes. Head Office: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX.