Scholarly Communication: Peer Review Process

While the peer review process for journals can vary, it typically follows the pattern described below.

1. Author submits article to a journal.
2. Managing editor determines if it is suitable for review.
   • If it is suitable for review, managing editor sends the submission to reviewers.
   • If not, the submission is immediately rejected without being sent out to peer reviewers.
3. Peer reviewers recommend one of the following:
   1. Accept without revisions
   2. Accept pending revisions
   3. Reject
4. If revisions are required, the author submits the revised article to the managing editor.
5. Managing editor and/or peer reviewers determine if revisions are sufficient.

Very few articles are accepted without revisions. Being asked to revise your work is a foundational practice in scholarly publishing, and often results in the work being stronger after it has undergone review.