According to the National Institute of Health (NCBI), the rejection rate of manuscripts is around 62%. Hence, you can say more than 6 out of 10 journals get rejected, but why? This is what we are going to discuss in this blog. We will not only discuss the factors which lead to Manuscript rejection but also we will compare this with the high-impact and low-impact journals. Sounds exciting? Then, we can start our quest.
First, let us understand what high-impact and low-impact journals are: High and low-impact journals are categories of academic journals that are distinguished based on their level of influence and reputation in a particular field or discipline. High-impact journals are those that publish articles that are highly cited and have a significant influence on the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields. These journals are typically well-established, prestigious, and have a large readership and broad international reach. The impact factor is a commonly used metric for measuring a journal’s influence and reputation in a particular field.
On the other hand, low-impact journals are those that publish articles that are not highly cited and have less influence on a particular field or discipline. These journals are typically less well-established, less prestigious, and have a smaller readership and less international reach compared to high-impact journals.
It is important to note that the distinction between high and low-impact journals is not always clear-cut, and there is often a spectrum of journal quality and influence within a particular field. The impact factor is not always an accurate measure of a journal’s quality or relevance, and researchers should consider other factors, such as the scope of the journal, the quality of its editorial board, and the relevance of the journal to their research field when selecting a journal for publication.
High-impact journals are those that have a significant influence in their respective fields due to their high citation rates and prestige. The impact of high-impact journals can be seen in several ways:
- High Reputation: High-impact journals have a reputation for publishing high-quality research, which attracts top researchers and authors to submit their work to these journals. This, in turn, enhances the journal’s reputation and prestige.
- Career Advancement: Publishing in high-impact journals can have a significant impact on an author’s career advancement, particularly in academia. Articles published in high-impact journals are often seen as more influential and can lead to greater recognition and career opportunities for authors.
- Funding Opportunities: High-impact journals are often considered by funding agencies when awarding grants and scholarships. Researchers who have published in high-impact journals are more likely to receive funding, which can lead to further research opportunities.
- Influence on Research: These kinds of journals often publish articles that have a significant impact on their respective fields. These articles can influence future research, shape the direction of the field, and lead to discoveries and innovations.
- International Recognition: These are often read and cited by researchers around the world. This international recognition can help to increase the visibility and impact of the research being published, leading to greater collaboration and scientific progress.
However, it is also important to note that the emphasis on high-impact journals can create challenges and issues in academic publishing, such as the pressure to publish in these journals leading to misconduct and questionable research practices. Additionally, high-impact journals may not always represent the full range of research being conducted in a field, and this can lead to a narrow perspective on the field as a whole.
Low-impact journals, as their name suggests, typically have lower citation rates and less prestige compared to high-impact journals. However, these journals can still have a significant impact on academic publishing and research in several ways:
- Accessibility: Low-impact journals may be more accessible to authors, especially those who are new to academic publishing or working in emerging fields. These journals may have lower submission fees, faster review times, and more flexible requirements for authors, making it easier for them to get their research published.
- Diversity: These types of journals can often provide a more diverse range of research perspectives and voices, as they may be more open to publishing innovative or interdisciplinary research that may not fit within the scope of high-impact journals.
- Community: These can foster a sense of community among researchers working in a specific field or subfield, providing a platform for the sharing and discussion of research and ideas.
- Specialization: Low-impact journals may focus on specific areas or subfields within a larger academic discipline, allowing for more targeted and specialized research to be published.
- Capacity Building: These types of journals can also contribute to capacity building in academic publishing, providing opportunities for emerging researchers and scholars to gain experience and build their publication records.
While low-impact journals may not have the same level of prestige or influence as high-impact journals, they can still have a significant impact on academic publishing and research. They can provide important opportunities for authors, foster diversity and community within academic disciplines, and contribute to the overall advancement of knowledge and scholarship.
While high-impact journals can have many benefits, there are also several problems and challenges associated with these journals, including:
- Pressure to Publish: There is often significant pressure to publish in high-impact journals, particularly in certain fields or academic cultures. This can lead to unethical practices, such as falsification of data, plagiarism, or “salami slicing” (dividing one research project into multiple smaller studies to maximize publication output).
- Bias and Exclusivity: High-impact journals may have biases towards certain types of research, such as those that are novel, confirmatory, or have positive results. They may also be exclusive, favouring established researchers or those from prestigious institutions, which can make it difficult for new or emerging scholars to get published.
- Publication Delays: The journals may have longer review and publication times, which can delay the dissemination of important research findings.
- Narrow Focus: High-impact journals may have a narrow focus on certain areas or topics within a larger academic field, which can limit the diversity and range of research being published.
- Impact Factor Obsession: The impact factor (IF) of a journal is a measure of its average number of citations per published article, and it is often used as a proxy for the journal’s prestige and influence. However, the focus on the impact factor can lead to a “publish or perish” culture, where authors prioritize publishing in high-impact journals over the quality or relevance of their research.
- Open Access: High-impact journals may have high subscription fees or paywalls that limit access to their articles, making it difficult for researchers and the public to access important research findings.
Low-impact journals can also have several problems and challenges associated with them, including:
- Lower Visibility: Low-impact journals may have lower visibility and less prestige compared to high-impact journals, which can limit the exposure of published research and its impact on the broader academic community.
- Quality Concerns: There may be concerns about the quality of research published in low-impact journals, as these journals may have less rigorous review processes or be more susceptible to biases or conflicts of interest.
- Limited Funding: These types of journals may have limited funding or resources, which can impact their ability to attract high-quality submissions, provide timely and thorough reviews, or invest in digital infrastructure.
- Less Incentive to Publish: Researchers may have less incentive to publish in low-impact journals, as these publications may not carry the same weight in academic hiring, promotion, or funding decisions.
- Narrow Scope: Low-impact journals may have a narrow scope, focusing on specific subfields or topics within an academic discipline. While this can provide opportunities for specialization, it may also limit the diversity and breadth of research being published.
- Predatory Publishing: Some low-impact journals may engage in predatory publishing practices, such as charging high publication fees, spamming potential authors with unsolicited invitations to submit, or failing to conduct rigorous peer review.
First, let us understand the dissimilar factors which lead to the manuscript rejection for both the high and the low-impact journals and then we can discuss the similar factors.
- The originality of the manuscripts: One of the main reasons for manuscript rejection is that high-impact journals expect highly original and novel research manuscripts whereas low-impact journals prioritize incremental or less novel research manuscripts.
- Importance of the manuscripts: As the name suggests, high-impact journals only consider manuscripts which can produce a major impact on the field of research whereas low-impact manuscripts accept research which has a lower impact.
- You have to check the quality of the research: The high-impact journals obviously expect rigorous and high-quality research and the data quality and methodology of the low-impact journals have some flaws which you have to consider.
- You need to focus: Let me explain. A journal can only create a higher impact when it targets a specific area. On the other hand. The low-impact journals can produce an impact on a broader range of topics.
- The journals are very selective: In the case of high-impact journals, the acceptance rate is very less as the acceptance criteria are very strict. On the contrary, low-impact journals have a very high acceptance rate because the acceptance criteria are not very strict.
- Have a look at the peer-review process: The peer-review process is very rigorous and lengthy for high-impact journals whereas the rigorous process is less and much shorter for low-impact journals.
- What about the publication speed: Because of the high demand for high-impact journals, it may take a long time to publish a blog post but in the case of the low-impact journal, the publication time is faster.
- We need to talk about visibility: As the high impact journals create a major impact in the field of research, hence it offers greater visibility and readership. On the contrary, low-impact journals do not create lower visibility and readership.
- Finally, let’s talk about the impact factor: Now, as the name suggests, the high-impact journal has a high impact and the low-impact journal has a low impact factor.
Now, it’s time to investigate the similar factors that contribute to Manuscript rejection for high and low-impact journals. So, let’s begin.
- Poor research quality: Both the high and the low-impact journals are typically looking for high-quality research that makes a significant contribution to the field. Manuscripts may be rejected if the research design or methodology is flawed, the data analysis is inadequate, or the findings are not novel or significant enough.
- Writing quality: Manuscripts that are poorly written, difficult to understand, or fail to adhere to the journal’s guidelines may be rejected. Apart from that, the manuscripts which are not presented professionally or do not follow the appropriate format also get rejected in the case of both high and low-impact journals.
- Lack of fit: Both the high and the low-impact journals typically have a specific focus or scope, and manuscripts that are not a good fit for the journals may be rejected. The journals may also reject manuscripts that are too narrow in scope or not of sufficient interest to the journal’s readership.
- Ethical issues: Manuscripts that have ethical issues, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or conflicts of interest, may be rejected. Both the High and the low-impact journals have high standards for ethical conduct and may reject manuscripts that do not meet these standards.
- Review process: Manuscripts that receive negative reviews from peer reviewers may be rejected. Reviewers may identify flaws in the research design, methodology, data analysis, or interpretation of findings that lead to rejection.
- Journal capacity: Both the High and the low-impact journals receive a large number of submissions, and there may be limited space in the journal for new publications. Manuscripts that are not of the highest quality or significance may be rejected due to limited capacity.
Notice the factors which lead to manuscript rejection, are the same for both high and low-impact journals. Want to know why? Then read on.
- Scientific standards: Both high and low-impact journals maintain the same scientific standards for the quality and significance of the research that they publish. Manuscripts that do not meet these standards may be rejected.
- Peer review process: Both high and low-impact journals use peer review processes to evaluate the quality of manuscripts. The same standards for rigour, accuracy, and originality apply to both high and low-impact journals.
- Ethical considerations: Both high and low-impact journals require authors to adhere to ethical principles, including avoiding plagiarism, data fabrication, and conflicts of interest. Manuscripts that violate these principles may be rejected.
- Fit with the journal’s scope: Both high and low-impact journals have a specific scope or focus, and manuscripts that do not fit with this scope may be rejected.
- Capacity constraints: Both high and low-impact journals have limited capacity to publish manuscripts.
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