Navigating the Peer Review Process
11-3
Choice of journal: If the journal to which you are submitting your manuscript may not appear to be the most logical choice, you may want to explain why you have chosen the journal and what you have done in the manuscript to make it appropriate for that journal’s audience. For example, if you are submitting an article reporting the long-term outcome from a certain cancer treatment to a cardiology journal, you should probably explain that the long-term cardiac side effects of the agent will be dealt with by cardiologists rather than oncologists and point out that the article emphasizes these side effects and their treatment. Reasons for duplicate publication: The circumstances that allow for duplicate or secondary publication were covered in the chapter “Ethical Issues in Scientific Publishing.” These circumstances are rare and must be explained in the cover letter. Conflict of interest: Conflict of interest was also covered in the “Ethical Issues” chapter. Any possible conflict of interest, no matter how remote it may be, should be revealed in the cover letter. Conditions: Conditions that may place limitations on the publication of the article if it is accepted include publication after the entire paper is read at a meeting and publication in a proceedings volume after publication in the journal. Presentation of an abstract at a meeting does not limit publication. Reviewers: It is acceptable to name reviewers whom you either recommend or wish not to review your manuscript. In recommending reviewers, you may be doing an editor a favor, especially if your manuscript is on a topic that is not commonly encountered in the journal. However, you should reassure the editor that these are people who have had no involvement in the research or the preparation of the manuscript. You should indicate that you are suggesting them because they are well versed in the topic of your manuscript. Conversely, there may be rival researchers who could benefit from either hindering or preventing the publication of your manuscript. You can name such people and ask that the editor not send your manuscript to them for review. You should explain your concerns diplomatically, however.
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software