On ResearchGate, you can join in the discussion by adding comments to research items. Adding comments is a great way to discuss research in your field with experts, ask questions directly to the authors, and share your own expertise. We've put together these guidelines so that you can get the most out of commenting on ResearchGate.
Top tips for commenting
- Comments are a great way to give feedback, ask questions, and interact with other researchers
- Comments should be specific and relevant to the research you're interacting with
- To get other researchers involved in the discussion, you can easily tag them in your comments by typing an @ symbol before mentioning their name
Adding a good comment
Giving high-quality feedback is a great way to discuss research with authors and other experts. Aim at adding feedback that is detailed, focused, relevant to the research item, and useful to the people reading it. A useful comment is one that either asks a specific question or provides feedback on the content, method, results, or anything else specific to someone's research. For people interested in a research item, good comments will help them to understand aspects that are not clear or to spark discussions about important findings. For authors, good comments will give them research-related feedback and suggestions, or discuss their methods and results.
Style
The key to adding good comments is to keep your comments and questions simple, informative, and concise. Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar make all the difference. Always keep in mind that comments are where you engage with other scientists on a professional level. When adding a comment, remember that you can tag researchers on ResearchGate by typing an @ symbol before mentioning their name. This is a great way to involve other researchers and to start a conversation about the work.
Where can I add comments?
You can give your thoughts on an entire research item by adding your comments in the comments tab directly underneath the research item's title and author information.
How do I add a comment to a research item?
For all research items on ResearchGate, including those without a full-text, you can add general comments on the entire research item. To do this, follow these steps:
- Go to the page of the research item you want to comment on
- Select the Comments tab at the top of the page underneath the research item's title and author information
- Click in the text field box that says Add a comment
- Add your comment
- Save the comment by clicking Add comment.
Please note: Your comment is now visible to any ResearchGate member using the site logged in.
How do I edit my comment?
To edit a comment that you added to a research item:
- Go to the page of the research item you commented on
- Select the Comments tab at the top of the page underneath the research item's title and author information
- Locate the comment you would like to edit and click on the downward-facing arrow at the top right-hand corner, and then click Edit
- Enter the changes you would like to make and click Save.
How do I delete my comment?
To delete a comment that you added to a research item:
- Go to the page of the research item you commented on
- Select the Comments tab at the top of the page underneath the research item's title and author information
- Locate the comment you would like to edit and click on the downward-facing arrow at the top right-hand corner, and then click Delete
- Click Yes to confirm.
Please note: To ensure that scientific discourse remains visible to all, comments and questions with replies cannot be deleted.
Who can see my comments?
ResearchGate is a platform for connecting the world of science and making it as open as possible. For this reason, all comments are visible to any logged-in ResearchGate member who views the publication page. We always display the name of the researcher alongside their comment. This way, the researcher is fully responsible and accountable for the feedback they give. We alert authors to comments on their work as soon as feedback is added. This way, they are encouraged and able to respond to feedback immediately. Researchers are also notified when one of their comments receives a reply. We believe that these open discussions around research items are extremely effective at helping accelerate scientific progress.
How do I report other researchers' comments?
You can help to make sure that quality on ResearchGate remains high by reporting inappropriate comments. Find out how in our section on reporting comments and replies.
Why was my comment deleted?
We may remove comments that violate our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. To make sure that your comments remain visible, please take the time to read our policies carefully.
