ABSTRACT
Q4: What Is the Nature of the Editorial Process of Leading Journals? 197 Q5: How Do Researchers Approach the Publication Process? 198
Concluding Remarks 200 References 201
Publishing in highly reputed journals is now an imperative for many scholars in order to progress in their academic careers. Many PhD programs are requiring their students to publish in high-quality journals as part of the program. In the recruitment process for starting academic positions (assistant professor, lecturer, etc.), an increasing number of research-oriented universities around the globe are favorably considering candidates only if they have publications in top-tier journals, or, at the very least, if the candidates can demonstrate their ability to publish work in such journals (as evident from reviseresubmit decisions received by them). For universities having rigorous tenure and promotion processes, publications in leading journals (considerations of both quality and quantity) serve as a key input. Even grant agencies in many countries are known to judge the stature and credibility of a scholar applying for funding based on the scholar’s list of publications in leading journals. Unfortunately, publishing in these journals in a sustained manner is not among the easiest tasks faced by an academic. Leading journals tend to have high standards, with reviewers and editors often demanding unreasonable levels of theoretical and methodological sophistication, scale of the study, and contributions. Moreover, the review process can be quite tedious and requires a high degree of resilience, with authors having to endure several review cycles before they are able to receive final acceptance (if all goes well), or a rejection decision.
