'Peer review' culture

A relatively high incidence of unsatisfactory review decisions is widely re cognised and acknowledged as 'the peer review problem'. Factors contributin g to this problem are identified and examined. Specific examples of unreaso nable rejection are considered. It is concluded that weaknesses of the 'pee r review' system are significant and that they are well known or readily re cognisable bur that necessary counter-measures are not always enforced. Car eful management is necessary to discount hollow opinion or error in review comment. Review and referee functions should be quite separate.