Successful publishingmanaging the review

process

Professor Janet R. McColl-Kennedy, PhD

2004 Services Doctoral ConsortiumMiami, Florida28 October

Step 1: Prepare wellDo your homework on the journal

• aim for a journal before writing• who is on the editorial board?• who are the readers?• philosophy of the journal• look at some recent issues• check the guidelines for submission• what type of paper is it? (eg.

conceptual, case study, meta analysis, empirical)

What is the contribution?

• the “wow” factor• how does the paper add to our

understanding?• you need to argue that you have

done something unique and significant

• you need to identify the gap(s) in the literature and show clearly where and how your paper adds significantly

What is the contribution (cont)?

• it must have– a strong conceptual development– precise definitions– compelling argument– technically correct (method and

analysis)• it needs to be better than all the

others that are compelling at that time!

• journals have limited space

As a reviewer what do I look for?

• significant contribution (several studies)• “Wow”…this is something very

interesting and worth publishing! • appropriate methodology and analysis• thoughtfulness and completeness in the

paper• compelling argument• clarity of writing• appropriate to the journal

Compelling argument

• demonstrate why this paper should be published

• how does it add to what we know (what’s unique?, contrary findings?)

• state purpose clearly and right at the beginning (in the first page)– “In this study we seek to extend…

by addressing the gaps…”

Presentation

• write clearly (clear thoughts = clear writing)

• “Don’t write merely to be understood. Write so that you cannot be misunderstood” (Summers, 2001).

• checks– contribution to length ratio– are all figures/tables included?– numbered and named correctly

Reviewer’s check list

• is there a clear structure?• do I know what this paper is about in

the first page?• does the paper flow well?• is the length appropriate? (eg.

typically 20-25 pages)• are all the figures included? relevant?• are the tables and figures correctly

numbered and named?

Peer review

• before you send off your paper have a couple of colleagues read it over and give you honest feedback

• have the reviewers in mind when you write. They like to be cited!!!!

• check that you have written (rewritten) for the particular journal (check format again)

Why articles are rejected?

Prof Bob Lusch’s view (Editor of J of Marketing at that time)

• poorly written• not scholarly and/or not literature

based• fatal flaws• research mis-positioned for the journal• weaknesses outweighed strengths of

the article • insufficient contribution• too new/unique that reviewers did not

have frame of reference to effectively review the paper

Communicate with the editor

• cover letter- show how the paper is unique (key areas - should help identify reviewers)

• key words are very important• follow up for a progress report (but be

polite!)• “Revise and resubmit” is good news!

Do just that. Some people send it to another journal and it may be reviewed again by the same reviewer(s)!

What to do with reviewers comments

• do not ignore them!!!!!!• take a walk• ask a colleague to read the paper

and give their view of the comments• consolidate the recommendations• do not take the comments personally• make every effort to incorporate all

the suggestions

What to do with reviewers comments(cont)

• show exactly how you have addressed each comment one by one

• show how the revisions have strengthened the paper

• remember that your response will be sent back to the reviewers

• don’t put the reviewers or the editor down!!!!!

• be professional, tell them that you appreciated the comments!

Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite

• writing journal articles is a process• even the very best researchers have

to rewrite their work. • sometimes it takes years to get the

paper published• try to see it as a process and enjoy

the process. You learn by doing!• stay positive

The reject letter!

• take a walk!• come back re read the comments• go for another walk!• re read the comments - maybe they

have a point! • learn from and build on rejection!• most comments are worth thinking

about• give another angle…something you

hadn’t considered• rework and resubmit…

Recognise that it is a process

• remember you are an artisan – crafting a masterpiece …it takes time (lots of time) and hard work

• quality pays off• be persistent• learn to enjoy writing• you want to be proud of your work

several years later • architects have opera houses

(buildings)… artists have mona lisas… good researchers have great papers