Where the wrapped-up projects were well-received, the new ones have suffered less warm receptions.
As feedback has trickled on COVID-conceived projects, I've noticed that the #reviewpackages were tougher in every respect - on theory, method, and contributions.
I've seen more #deskrejects, #rejections, and tough #revisions than at any point in my career.
Yet, my teams have put in no less effort on our projects.
As I've reflected on the feedback, I've wondered if two forces are not at work.
Force One: #Reviewpanels are brittle.
As COVID started, journals reported being flooded with papers- some with 30% higher submission rates.
Editors, associate editors, and reviewers are exhausted. They are brittle. They are less forgiving. The review system is strained.
It could be that review panels are less apt to take risks on papers,
Force Two: Authors are less mindful.
As we all sat at home, ideas that sounded really good from the WFH "Covid Bunker" were perhaps not so great.
The flood of journal submissions created social pressure to generate ideas, collect data, and chase publications. Hence, authors took less time to think through ideas, research design, and the story in the manuscript.
It could be that authors are not submitting high-quality work.
If these two forces are in play, what should we do?
First, calibrate expectations.
It is likely ideas born of COVID aren't all top journal worthy..
Critically ask where the paper should be submitted. If it isn't top journal worthy, reformat & submit it to an appropriate outlet.
Second, take extra time before submission.
It is likely that authors are still experiencing COVID fatigue and are submitting papers too soon.
Take a step back from your papers. Wait a week to 30 days before submitting. Re-read the paper.
When I returned to a paper recently, I saw many opportunities to strengthen my work further.
We recognized an empirical gap on a different project - we are collecting more data.
Third, admit that your papers may not be journal worthy.
If so, send them to conferences & get the idea out there, then move on.
That way, we don't further tax brittle peer review processes.
Being realistic about your work and its possible final destination, is important - bc rejections are discouraging for individuals & not-primetime-ready submissions stress editors & reviewers.
If we are all a bit more mindful of where & what we submit, we can strengthen our own work & the peer review system that supports it.
Best of luck!
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