What may a grant proposal reviewer do to ensure they do not influence the review outcome?

A grant proposal reviewer can maintain the integrity of the review process by staying impartial and objective in their feedback. This means that the reviewer must avoid allowing personal biases, relationships, or preconceived notions about the applicants or their work to affect their evaluation criteria and scores. By adhering to impartiality, the reviewer ensures that the decision-making process remains fair and based solely on the merits of the proposals being assessed.

Maintaining objectivity is crucial because the outcome of the review process can significantly impact funding and research opportunities for individuals and institutions. Thus, the reviewer must focus on providing an honest assessment based on the content of the proposal rather than external influences.

In contrast, limiting the number of proposals reviewed, discussing evaluations with colleagues, or sharing insights on social media could introduce various forms of bias or external influence, which could compromise the integrity of the review process. These actions could lead to conflicts of interest or the dissemination of information that might skew opinions or perceptions of the proposals evaluated.