Q: How should I reply if a reviewer says my sample size is small?
I submitted a paper regarding a sleep experiment, and one of the reviewers pointed out that sample size is not big enough. I have checked other papers which handle sleep experiments, but I don’t think the sample size of my paper is not especially small. Currently I am not planning to perform additional experiments. How should I reply to the reviewer?
If you are determined that your sample size is sufficient, you can write back to the journal explaining your point of view. It is not uncommon to disagree with a reviewer’s comments. You can choose to defend your view but make sure your clarification is supported by facts and logic. Explain to the journal editor why you believe your experiment is sufficient and share necessary supporting evidence. Please be polite in your communication with the journal while you make your case.
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This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage