Abstract
Scholarly publication in a peer-reviewed journal is the highest form of disseminating research findings. However, the process of publishing in peer-reviewed journals remains a daunting task for researchers and academics in Africa. This commentary will assist authors in Africa to understand the peer-review process, to appreciate the length of time it takes for a manuscript to be published and to encourage them to publish in local peer-review journals. The authors argue that the peer-review process is essential because it acts as a quality control mechanism to ensure that valid and reliable research is published. Although peer review does not guarantee exclusive publication of reliable and valid research, it remains central in the scientific activity. Authors need to take the comments from reviewers and editors, even in cases of rejection seriously and in the positive sense, inorder to improve upon the quality of their work. Rejections by some journals happen not to be scientifically grounded. It happens that African authors suffer more from this flaw. This could justify why some naïve authors easily turn to publish in predatory journals. The authors argue that publishing in local journals is imperative for Africans scholars. Therefore, initiatives to encourage publication in these journals are highly needed.
Highlights
Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is the highest form of disseminating research findings
Publications remain the main vehicles for disseminating research findings, with research publication in peer-reviewed journals being at the peak of dissemination
There are some journals which claim to be peer-reviewed but publish any manuscript that is submitted within a very short time period, sometimes 24 hours, without going through the elaborate peer-review process as explained in this commentary. It is almost impossible for peer-review to be done and an editorial decision taken within 24 hours, not even one week after submission of a manuscript
Summary
Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is the highest form of disseminating research findings. The process of publishing in peer-reviewed journals remains a daunting task especially for researchers in Africa.
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