> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.callforpaper.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuring Review Settings

> Set up your peer review process including anonymity, reviewer assignments, feedback options, and quality controls.

# Review Settings

Configure how the peer review process works for your event, including anonymity levels, reviewer assignments, and decision options.

## Accessing Review Settings

<Steps>
  <Step>Open your **Event Dashboard**.</Step>
  <Step>Navigate to **Settings** → **Review Settings**.</Step>
</Steps>

## Anonymity & Review Model

Control how author and reviewer identities are handled during the review process.

### Review Blindness

| Option           | Description                                                       |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Single-blind** | Reviewers can see author names; authors cannot see reviewer names |
| **Double-blind** | Neither party knows the other's identity (strict anonymity)       |

### Reviewer Identity Visibility

Choose when reviewer identities are revealed to authors:

* **Hidden from authors** — Reviewers remain anonymous throughout
* **Revealed after acceptance** — Authors see reviewer names only after their paper is accepted
* **Always visible** — Open review where authors can see who reviewed their work

## Reviewer Assignment

### Assignment Mode

| Mode                                   | How It Works                                                |
| -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Manual only**                        | Chairs assign each reviewer to submissions individually     |
| **Fully automatic (Smart Distribute)** | System assigns reviewers based on availability and workload |
| **Hybrid System**                      | Automatic suggestions with manual approval by chairs        |

### Workload Settings

* **Minimum Reviewers** — Target number of reviews per submission (e.g., 3 reviewers per paper)
* **Cap per Reviewer** — Maximum submissions a single reviewer can be assigned

### Track-Based Assignment

Enable this option to restrict reviewers to submissions within their assigned tracks only. Useful for large conferences with specialized topics.

## Feedback & Visibility

### Comment Types

| Setting                 | Who Sees It                                     |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Comments to Authors** | Authors receive this feedback with the decision |
| **Internal Notes**      | Only visible to chairs and other reviewers      |
| **Confidential Notes**  | Private remarks for the editor/chair only       |

### Editing Window

Control when reviewers can modify their submitted reviews:

* **Open until review deadline** — Reviewers can edit anytime before the deadline
* **Locked automatically after deadline** — No changes after the review period ends
* **Manual unlock by Chair only** — Reviews are locked; chairs can unlock individually

### Decision Visibility

Define when reviewers can see other committee members' reviews:

* **Never see other reviews** — Complete isolation between reviewers
* **After submitting own review** — Access to others' reviews only after completing your own
* **Only after review phase concludes** — All reviews visible once the phase ends

## Decisions & Rebuttals

### Available Outcomes

Select which decision options chairs can apply to submissions:

* **Accept** — Paper accepted as submitted
* **Reject** — Paper not accepted
* **Accept (Minor Revisions)** — Accepted with small changes required
* **Accept (Major Revisions)** — Accepted conditionally with significant changes needed

<Tip>
  Include revision options if your event allows authors to improve their work before final acceptance.
</Tip>

### Rebuttals

Enable rebuttals to give authors a chance to respond to reviewer feedback before final decisions.

* **Enable Rebuttals** — Toggle on to allow author responses
* **Rebuttal Word Limit** — Set a maximum word count (e.g., 500 words)

## Integrity & Quality

### Conflict of Interest (COI) Rules

* **Prevent Self-Review** — Automatically blocks reviewers from being assigned their own papers
* **Manual Override** — Allows chairs to bypass COI blocks when necessary (use with caution)

### Review Quality Controls

* **Minimum Feedback Length** — Require a minimum word count for valid reviews (e.g., 10 words)
* **Flag Low-Effort Reviews** — System automatically flags reviews that appear generic or too brief for chair review

<Warning>
  Low-effort reviews can undermine the integrity of your peer review process. Consider requiring meaningful feedback with a reasonable minimum length.
</Warning>

## FAQ

**Q: Can I change review settings after reviewers have started?**
A: Yes, but changes only affect future behavior. Already-submitted reviews follow the rules in place at submission time.

**Q: What's the difference between Internal Notes and Confidential Notes?**
A: Internal Notes are visible to all reviewers and chairs. Confidential Notes are visible only to chairs/editors—useful for sensitive comments.

**Q: How does automatic assignment work?**
A: The system distributes papers based on reviewer availability, existing workload (respecting the cap), and track assignments if enabled.

## Related Guides

* [Creating an Event](/event-management/creating-an-event)
* [Creating a Call for Papers](/call-for-papers/creating-a-cfp)
* [Registration Settings](/event-management/registration-settings)