Journal rejection is very heartbreaking news for any researcher. The right information regarding a journal can help a lot to avoid unpleasant moments like rejection. The best approach to meet the best end results is to avoid the commonly observed mistakes. Let’s have a details discussion on the ways to avoid mistakes that become the cause of journal rejection.
Go For The Best Journal
First, you need to consider which type of journal you would like your paper to be published in. Keep in mind that different types of journals are available; you need to determine which one matches your field of study. Even that format and referencing guidelines are also different from one another. So, to save your time and energy, you should follow the guidelines of the proposed journal in which you aim to publish your paper.
However, it would help to consider other factors when selecting the right journal platform for publishing your paper. It would be best to list the top journals suitable for your field of study. Now, the question arises how will you know which are the top journals you need to consider? For this purpose, search on the internet, libraries and different websites to make a list of journals in your research study field. After making a list, narrow it down quality-wise. Search also whether your research topic has been published in the past or not in the journals.
Also, check out the list of references of your sources from the list of journals. Try to see what are the top-ranked papers for your first publication. When you consider all these points, you would not have to deal with journal rejection.
Lack of Focus and Interest
Another most common mistake is a lack of focus and interest which cause journal rejection. When you select a topic, you need to ensure that your topic must be focused and related to your field because if you have an interest in the topic, then you will have plenty to say about that topic. All important points of your topic that you need to discuss in your thesis should have interesting facts and figures. The best way to attempt the paper is to outline all content and research. Try your best to make your dissertation interesting and create a proper flow because several people will read your paper to give you feedback.
Lack of Opposing Viewpoints
A lack of opposing viewpoints is also a common mistake. When you start the paper, do plenty of research on your topic and explain your arguments in a balanced tone. Do not be blindsided in your research paper. Many academic researchers defend only one point of view and it is not the right approach.
Use of Incorrect References
To make your research believable, every researcher must give authentic references and citations from which they got the data. Most researchers do not know how to make references and citations. To avoid incorrect references, I advise you to list down all the references you will be using when conducting research from different databases. Your reference must be in proper style and without spelling errors.
Presence of Grammatical Mistakes
Having grammatical and sentence structure mistakes makes your paper seem unprofessional. Proofread your dissertation to ensure it is error-free and relevant to the topic.
Follow Peer-Reviewed Guidelines
Peer review response gives you a new perspective on your research paper, so it would be helpful for your publication, and it will help clarify your research work and writing style. Peer reviewers are experts in ensuring that the research paper meets the standards of the journals for which you have written your paper.
You need to pass the peer review process before publishing your research paper. In this process, one academic journal editor reviews the research paper and passes it if your research work is worthy. After it, it will be reviewed by other peer reviewers to check the credibility of your paper. After checking your paper properly, you will receive an email or letter from the journal peer reviewers. They tell you about their decision that your research will be acceptable or not. They can also provide you with some valuable information in which you can improve your research paper to make it published in the journal platform. Follow the guidelines and avoid the situation of journal rejection.
Having a Research Topic that is too Broad
One of the mistakes that often happen is that most researchers choose a topic that is too broad. As a good researcher, you are responsible for solving problems and giving solutions. If your research topic is too broad, you cannot focus on any one important aspect of your topic and cannot generate meaningful solutions. Try to use the authentic resources for your work to reduce the chances of journal rejection.
Having Misaligned Research Aims and Objectives
While writing paper or research article, misaligned research aims and objectives are a common mistake. Your research objectives must be aligned with three elements: aim, objective and research question. The alignment of these elements is very important in the research proposal of your research paper because it helps ensure that the researcher’s research is based on authentic and well-designed logic.
Lack of Clarity
Your paper’s flow should be clear and easy to understand. Even a well-researched paper may lack clarity in writing. To avoid lack of clarity, proofread your drafts and send them to other people for feedback before submitting them to the journal.
Also, your paper must have a firm contextual foundation. You have to start it with a good introduction and outline all important contextual factors of your topic. The main context must tell the reader what is going on in the field.
Concluding Lines
The discussed mistakes are commonly observed as a reason for journal rejection. So, by avoiding the points mentioned above, you would not have to deal with journal rejection. The time you will invest in writing and submitting a journal would have some worth by following the tips to avoid mistakes.