This card game is designed as an engaging, inclusive, interactive training exercise to stimulate debate around the ethics, policies and processes of peer review.
First published in EASE journal, European Science Editing in 2018, this new 2024 edition features revised texts and brand-new cards that update the game to accommodate contemporary issues
Cards are collected into seven categories addressing a wide range of peer review scenarios:
Each card has a statement relating to the theme, which participants discuss in groups, deciding which they agree or disagree with, before revealing their selections and explanations with the whole group.
The game can be played in different ways, depending on size of group and amount of time available, but every version is intended to give participants a fun and interactive way to express and evaluate their opinions on aspects of peer review, and discuss them with peers.
Each deck contains 38 full-colour poker-sized 310gsm Heretic Smooth Black Cored Playing Cards, a short instruction card, and 8-page booklet with detailed instructions and background information to the game, housed in a 350gsm satin matte tuck box.
A pdf version of proxies for all playing cards and pdf playing guide are available to download and print:
2024 update developed by Duncan Nicholas and the EASE Peer Review Committee
First version: 2018, developed for EASE by Ružica Tokalić and Ana Marušić, in collaboration between EASE, PEERE, and University of Split, School of Medicine TRIBE program.
Tokalić R, Marušić A (2018) A peer review card exchange game. European Science Editing 44(3):52-55. doi.org/10.20316/ESE.2018.44.18007
Watch an explainer video introducing the Card Game