Irene Hames, a publishing consultant, says that when journals publish a paper, they should also publish the peer reviews of that paper, according to Retraction Watch.
She argues that the quality of reviews vary so widely that being peer reviewed is no longer a "badge of quality or rigor." By publishing the reviews, Hames tells Retraction Watch that readers would be able to gauge the standards of those reviews.
"It would also help distinguish reputable journals from those that are questionable or carrying out minimal or inadequate peer review," Hames said during a Peer Review week panel discussion back in September, according to Nature Index.
At the same time, Hames advocates for better due diligence when selecting peer reviewers, Retraction Watch says. She notes that the site has catalogued more than 500 cases of fake review.
She further says that peer reviewers might benefit from training in how the process works from responding to an invitation to how to conduct a review to how to confront ethical concerns. "I know from personal experience that there is considerable lack of knowledge and/or understanding of good research and publication practice among early-career researchers," she adds.