Peer review reliably detects errors in submitted scientific manuscripts.

Is it true that peer review reliably detects errors in submitted scientific manuscripts?

No. Multiple peer-reviewed sources report that reviewers miss most major errors: one study found reviewers detected on average only 2 of 8 deliberate errors, and another concluded editors should not assume reviewers will detect most major errors. Other items show chance-level reviewer agreement and failure to detect resubmissions, while a few items only describe peer review's goals or reviewer stringency.

Verdict: REFUTED · 2 sources for, 5 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

peer-reviewed scientific journal. (n.d.). cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/peer-reviewed-scientific-journal

What errors do peer reviewers detect, and does training improve their ability to detect them? - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2008.080062

Navalta, J. W. & Lyons, T. S. (2010). Student peer review decisions on submitted manuscripts are as stringent as faculty peer reviewers. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00046.2010

Hall, R. (2022). Effective Peer Review: Who, Where, or What?. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjidi.2022.100162

Peer-review practices of psychological journals: The fate of published articles, submitted again. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0140525x00011183

Elmore, S. (2017). Update on the Manuscript Peer Review Process. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192623317742616

Zarbin, M. & Chuck, R. S. (2023). The Elusive Nature of Truth in Scientific Studies and the Importance of Peer Review. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.12.3.10