1. …every scientist has an obligation to do a fair share of
reviewing.
2. A chosen reviewer who feels inadequately qualified to judge the
research reported in a manuscript should return it promptly to the editor.
3. A reviewer (or referee) of a manuscript should judge objectively
the quality of the manuscript, of its experimental and theoretical work,
of its interpretations and its exposition, with due regard to the maintenance
of high scientific and literary standards. A reviewer should respect
the intellectual independence of the authors.
4. A reviewer should be sensitive to the appearance of a conflict
of interest….
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6. A reviewer should treat a manuscript sent for review as a confidential
document....
7. Reviewers should explain and support their judgments adequately….
8. A reviewer should be alert to failure of authors to cite relevant
work by other scientists,…
9. A reviewer should act promptly, submitting a report in a timely
manner.
10. Reviewers should not use or disclose unpublished information,
arguments, or interpretations contained in a manuscript under consideration,
except with the consent of the author…. (PDF)