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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #139519
Title: WHY MY MANUSCRIPT WAS RELEASED (AND WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT).

Author
item ROBERTS, CRAIG - UNIV OF MISSOURI
item COLLINS, MICHAEL - UNIV OF KENTUCKY
item COFFELT, TERRY
item BULLOCK, DONALD - UNIV OF ILLINOIS

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/29/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: About 50 percent of the manuscripts submitted to Crop Science for publication are released back to the author. There are many reasons why manuscripts are released. For example, something as relatively simple as improper formatting or not following the guidelines for submitting manuscripts, as outlined in the Publications Handbook and Style Manual published by the tri-societies, may be the reason for returning the manuscript to the author. On occasion, the subject matter may be inappropriate for Crop Science and would be better suited for another journal. Certainly, manuscripts are released because of poorly stated objectives or the purpose for doing the research is unclear. Manuscripts also are released because of the statistical methods used thus resulting in erroneous data interpretation. A major stumbling block for many researchers is having a clear understanding of the need to repeat field experiments in time and/or space. The time and space issue can be confusing for both authors and reviewers when considering growth chamber and greenhouse studies. Of course, above all, research information submitted for publication in Crop Science must be original and advance our knowledge concerning the principles and issues of crop science and related areas. Research reports that do not fulfill this fundamental requirement are released to the author. The primary function of members of the Crop Science Editorial Board is to work with authors to ensure that research findings that are worthy of publication in Crop Science are in fact accepted and published in timely manner with as little inconvenience (i.e. rewriting) to the author(s) as possible. With this in mind, this special evening session will focus on the points mentioned above as well as many others. Following a short presentation, an experienced panel of current and past technical and associate editors of Crop Science will have an open dialogue with members of the audience concerning issues pertaining to successful submission of manuscripts submitted to Crop Science.