In the context of peer review, what does "single-blind" refer to?

In the context of peer review, "single-blind" refers to a system where the identity of the author is concealed from the reviewer, while the reviewer remains anonymous to the author. This means that the reviewer can evaluate the work without knowing who the author is, which helps to reduce bias in the review process. The anonymity allows the reviewer to provide an unbiased assessment based solely on the quality and integrity of the work submitted.

In practice, this approach is designed to protect authors from potential discrimination or bias due to their identity, institutional affiliation, or background. At the same time, the reviewer’s identity is not disclosed to the author, which encourages honesty and thoroughness in critiques.

This system contrasts with other peer review models, such as double-blind, where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other, or open review, where both identities are known. The correct understanding of single-blind peer review is crucial in recognizing how it aims to ensure a fair evaluation process in scholarly publishing and research.