Guidelines for Rating

1. Rating Categories
2. Who Can Rate?
3. Viewing Ratings and Rating Comments
4. How to Rate
5. Requesting Review of Inappropriate Content

1. Rating Categories

EHP allows users to rate News articles on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 star being the lowest rating and 5 stars the highest. Users can also supply ratings comments to explain their rating of an article. Unlike discussion comments, rating comments cannot be used as the beginning of a News Discussion thread. The comment field is optional; however, comments cannot be made unless the user also rates the article. In the spirit of full disclosure and scientific collegiality, raters are also asked to disclose any competing interests.

2. Who Can Rate?

All registered users are able to rate News articles. Anyone can register as a user and create an account by providing their full name, location, and valid e-mail address.

3. Viewing Ratings and Rating Comments

The average rating for each News article is displayed in the right-hand navigation menu. If no one has rated the article, an average rating of zero will be displayed. Clicking on "User Ratings" reveals individual ratings from as well as any user rating comments.

4. How to Rate

To rate an article first make sure you are logged into the website. Then click the "Rate This Article" link in the right-hand navigation menu of the article to be rated. This will open a separate window where you can rate the article and enter any comments and competing interests. Click "Submit" to enter your rating or "Cancel" to return to the article. Once you have submitted your rating, you will be returned to the article. Users may rate each article only once. However, ratings and rating comments can be modified by clicking the "Edit My Rating" link in the right-hand navigation menu.

5. Requesting Review of Inappropriate Content

Comments must comply with EHP's posting guidelines. Interpretation of these guidelines is subject to the discretion of the EHP editors. Comments that do not conform to EHP's guidelines will be promptly removed and the user account disabled.

Users may not post:

• personal attacks or threats against other users or individuals, or libelous, harassing, or abusive statements.
• attacks on individuals or groups based on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or other classification.
• content that is obscene, vulgar, or sexually explicit.
• commercial product promotions or off-topic messages; spam, chain letters, pyramid schemes, or fraudulent or deceptive messages; or false claims of affiliation with any third party.
• material whose posting on the EHP website could result in infringement of any third-party intellectual property or privacy or publicity rights.

To request review of a rating comment you believe to be inappropriate, or if you suspect the rating system is being abused, click the "Report a Concern" link in the bottom-right corner of the individual rating. Indicate why the rating should be reviewed ("Spam," "Offensive," "Inappropriate," or "Other"), enter any additional information in the text box, and click "Submit."