A Peer Review How-To
Robert S. Zucker of UC Berkeley wrote an excellent letter on the reviewing process. It is worth a read if you, as me, review a lot of papers.
The second mistake often made by reviewers is failing to consider all of the journal’s goals and requirements, including standards and guidelines stated in the editorial policy and gleaned from its articles. Do not reject a manuscript simply because its ideas are not original, if it offers the first strong evidence for an old but important idea. Do not reject a paper with a brilliant new idea simply because the evidence was not as comprehensive as could be imagined. Do not reject a paper simply because it is not of the highest significance, if it is beautifully executed and offers fresh ideas with strong evidence. Seek a balance among criteria in making a recommendation.