Acceptance Rate For Manuscripts Research Articles

The JAMA 1998 Editorial Peer Review Audit

Elaine S. Williams WE HEREBY THANK THE 3555 PEER REVIEWERS WHO completed JAMA manuscript reviews in 1998 and whose names appear on the following pages. In 1998, it took an average of 43 calendar days from manuscript receipt to rejection; 120 days from receipt to acceptance; and 180 days from receipt to publication. The total acceptance rate for manuscripts in 1998 was 15%, and the acceptance rate for unsolicited manuscripts was 9%.

Information for Readers

We hereby thank the 3043 peer reviewers who completed JAMA manuscript reviews in 1995 and whose names appear on pages 813-820. In 1995, it took a median of 24 calendar days from manuscript receipt to rejection, 78 days from receipt to acceptance, and 162 days from receipt to publication. A mean of 26 days was required for peer review; each reviewer handled a mean of 1.6 manuscripts. Fifty percent of the 3970 manuscripts we received in 1995 were sent for external peer review, most often to three reviewers. Forty-five percent of manuscripts were rejected without external review. Six percent of accepted manuscripts (mostly invited editorials and cover stories) did not have external review. The total acceptance rate for manuscripts in 1995 was 15.8%, and the acceptance rate for unsolicited manuscripts was 8.6%. Please see p 813 for the list of the 1995 JAMA peer reviewers.

Information for Readers

We hereby thank the 2952 peer reviewers who completed JAMA manuscript reviews in 1993 and whose names appear on pages 1127-1133. In 1993, it took a median of 16 calendar days from manuscript receipt to rejection, 86 days from receipt to acceptance, and 161 days from receipt to publication. A mean of 26 days was required for peer review; each reviewer handled a mean of 1.9 manuscripts. Forty-five percent of the 4103 manuscripts we received in 1993 were sent for outside review, most often to three reviewers. Forty-nine percent of manuscripts were rejected without outside review, and 6% were accepted without outside review (mostly invited editorials and cover stories). The total acceptance rate for manuscripts in 1993 was 15.9%, and the acceptance rate for unsolicited manuscripts was 10.4%. Please see p 1127 for the complete 1993 peer reviewers list.

Information for Readers

ABSTRACT We hereby thank the 2927 peer reviewers who completed JAMA article reviews in 1992 and whose names appear on pages 1321-1327. Our efforts to make the process more efficient have again resulted in stable or reduced median turnaround times. In 1992, it took a median of 12 calendar days from manuscript receipt to rejection; 81 days from receipt to acceptance; and 162 days from receipt to publication. Of this time, a mean of 26 days was required for the peer reviewers; each reviewer handled a mean of 1.9 manuscripts. Forty-six percent of manuscripts were sent for outside review, most often to three reviewers. Forty-seven percent of manuscripts were rejected without outside review, and 6% were accepted without outside review (mostly invited editorials and cover stories). The total acceptance rate for major manuscripts in 1992 was 17.5%, and the acceptance rate for unsolicited manuscripts was 11.3%.Please see p 1321 for

Thank You to Our 1991 Peer Reviewers

We hereby thank the 2624 peer reviewers who completed JAMA article reviews in 1991 and whose names appear on pages 2089-2095. Due to advances in electronic publishing, we have continued to decrease the median turnaround time for the various steps in the editing and publishing process. In 1991, it took a median of 12 days from receipt to rejection; 82 days from receipt to acceptance; and 163 days from receipt to publication. Of this time, a mean of 26 days was devoted to the peer-review process, with each reviewer handling a mean of 1.9 manuscripts per year. Forty-five percent of manuscripts were sent for outside review, most often to 3 reviewers. Forty-eight percent of manuscripts were rejected without outside review, and 6.8% of manuscripts were accepted without outside review (mostly invited editorials and cover stories). The total acceptance rate for major manuscripts was 18.3%, and the unsolicited manuscript acceptance rate

The Quality and Influence of JAMA-Reply

In Reply. —I found Dr Hecht's note to be stimulating since it is at variance with virtually all of the other feedback we receive. Most readers tell us that the JAMA of recent years is the best it has ever been. As our regular readers know, we function under a key objective and ten critical objectives and grade ourselves constantly against these. 1 In addition, we regularly use about two dozen indicators to judge JAMA and our nine American Medical Association specialty journals. These indicators are as follows: domestic and foreign circulation and readership, advertising revenue, Science Citation Index scores, quality of editorial boards, number of manuscripts received, manuscript acceptance rates, number and types of editorial categories, number of pages, turnaround time to publication, print and electronic media attention, results of readership surveys and focus groups, published corrections rates, number and quality of peer reviewers, peer review of the journals

The Credibility of ERIC's

Tauber reports on data gathered from 1 5 of the 16 ERIC Clearinghouses. He iden tifies the manuscript acceptance rates, reviewer qualifications, and the selection criteria applied in selecting unsolicited manuscripts for publication in ERIC's Resources in Education. He dispells the belief that anything and everything sub mitted to ERIC is automatically pub lished and he argues that RIE publica tions should carry "weight" at least equivalent to conference papers from recognized conferences.

Selection Criteria for ERIC:

Acquisition Coordinators from each of the 16 ERIC Clearinghouses are surveyed in an attempt to determine: (1) what is the acceptance rate of manuscripts submitted to the Clearinghouse; (2) what are the academic credentials and experience of the reviewers; (3) what are the criteria used to evaluate unsolicited manuscripts. Fifteen coordinators respond.

Appreciation to Our Peer Reviewers

Editing and publishing a weekly journal is a fairly substantial undertaking. When it has a large international circulation and a general content, the task can be formidable. For example, the usual issue of JAMA in 1983 contained between 13 and 20 major articles, plus MEDICAL NEWS, LEADS FROM THE MMWR, LETTERS, BOOKS, INTERNATIONAL ABSTRACTS, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, OBITUARIES, announcements, and advertising. We published 704 major articles, which were selected from some 3,600 manuscripts, giving an acceptance rate for all manuscripts of 19%. When only unsolicited manuscripts are considered, the acceptance rate was 13%. Obviously, it takes the expertise of hundreds of people to ensure quality. All manuscripts received are briefly reviewed on the same day and assigned by Dr Southgate or myself to any one of our ten physician-editors. Each of these editors has the responsibility to review personally and the authority to consult, reject, or work with the authors