Definition of Terms How the Directory Helps You Publish Relating the Theme of the Manuscript to the Topics

of Articles Published by Each Journal

The Relationship of the Manuscript's Style and Methodology to the Significance of the Journal's Theme to the Disci The Relationship of the Manuscript's Style and Methodology to the Journal's Readership The Possible Results of the Review Process and the Selection of a Journal to Receive the Manuscript Sending the Manuscript Receipt of the Reviewer's Comments What is a Refereed Article?

Definition of Terms
Table of Contents provides an alphabetized listing of journals.

Index classifies the journals according to over twenty different manuscript topics. It also includes information on the review, number of external reviewers and acceptance rate.

Cabell's Commendable Journal designation is determined primarily by two criteria: the publishing company respo for producing the journal and/or the number of years that the journal has been in continuous publication. Journals published by a major academic publisher will automatically receive the designation of "Cabell's Commendable Jour Likewise, journals that have been in continuous publication for at least five years will receive the designation. Journ do not qualify under either of these criteria can appeal to our review board for further consideration. In these cases review board will weigh several aspects of the journal, such as: the editorial board members' academic affiliations a publication records; any sponsors and/or affiliations of the journal. Upon examination of these elements, the memb our review board may bestow the designation of "Cabell's Commendable Journal" if they deem the journal to be of substantial quality.

Indexed in JCR/ERIC indicates the database(s) in which a journal appears. This does not provide a listing of the c count.

Contact Information provides: the Editor's Name(s), Mailing Address(es), Telephone number(s), E-mail(s) and We address(es).

Submission Process Method indicates whether the manuscript should be submitted by electronic or postal means. E-mail/web addresses indicates the address to which the manuscript should be sent. Manuscript Specification

Manuscript Style refers to the overall style guide the journal uses for text, references within the text and the biblio This is usually either the Chicago Manual of Style or the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Associa (APA).

Manuscript Length refers to the length of the manuscript in terms of the number of double-spaced typescript page Copies Required indicates the number of manuscript copies you should submit to the editor.

Reader indicates the predominant type of reader the publication seeks to attract. These are classified as academic (professors and researchers), business persons and administrators. Review Process

Acceptance Rate refers to the number of manuscripts accepted for publication relative to the number of manuscrip submitted within the last year. The method of calculating acceptance rates varies among journals. This information to us from our editors. Should you feel the information is incorrect, contact us and we will research further through v means.

Invited Articles indicates the percentage of articles for which the editor requests an individual to write specifically publication in the journal. The percentage is the number of invited articles relative to the total number of articles tha appeared in a journal within the past year.

Type of Review specifies blind, editorial or peer review methods. A blind review indicates the reviewer(s) does not who wrote the manuscript. An editorial review indicates the reviewer knows who wrote the manuscript.

No. of External Reviewers and No. of In House Reviewers These two items refer to the number of reviewers wh evaluate the manuscript prior to making a decision regarding the publication of the manuscript. Although the editor attempted to determine whether the reviewers were on the staff of the journal or were outside reviewers, many of th respondents had trouble distinguishing between internal and external reviewers. Thus, it may be more accurate to these two categories and determine the total number of reviewers.

Time to Review indicates the amount of time that passes between the submission of a manuscript and notification author regarding the results of the review process.

Reviewer's Comments indicates whether the author can obtain a copy of the reviewer's comments. In some case

author needs to request that the editor send these remarks. Publication Information

Sponsor/Publisher indicates the journal's affiliation with a professional association, educational institution, govern agency and/or publishing company. Frequency of Issue indicates the number of times a journal will be published in a year. Launch Date indicates the year the first issue was published. ISSN is the eight digit number which identifies periodical publications Manuscript Topics

Topics indicate those subjects the journal emphasizes. These are derived from a list of standard topics we provide editors. There may or may not be additional topics located in the guidelines. Manuscript Guidelines/Comments

Manuscript Guidelines/Comments provides information on the journal's objectives, style and format for reference footnotes that the editor expects the author to follow in preparing his manuscript for submission. Due to possible ed changes, it is recommended that users verify this information through the journal's web site before preparing a man for submission. Please note: As of 2010, Cabell's will be changing this to a link only if applicable. << Return to Top >>

HOW THE DIRECTORY HELPS YOU PUBLISH

Although individuals must communicate their ideas in writing, the Directory helps the author determine which journa most likely accept the manuscript. In making this decision, it is important to compare the characteristics of your ma and the needs of each journal. The following table provides a framework for making this comparison. Information Provided by the Directory for Each Journal Topic(s) of Articles Manuscript Guidelines Acceptance Rate Percentage of Invited Articles Type of Reader Manuscript Characteristics Theme

Significance of Theme

Methodology and Style

Launch Date Review Process Number of Reviewers Availability of Reviewers Comments Time Required for Reviewer

Prestige

Results of Review

This framework will help the author determine a small number of journals that will be interested in publishing the manusc Directory can assist the author in determining these journals, yet a set of unwritten and written laws prevent simultaneous su of a manuscript to more than one journal. However, a manuscript can be sent to another journal in the event of a rejection by publication.

Furthermore, copyright laws and editorial policies of a given publication often require the author to choose only one Consequently, some journals will require the author to sign a statement indicating the manuscript is not presently u review by another publication.

Publication of the manuscript in the proceedings of a professional association does not prevent the author from sen to a journal. However, there usually are some restrictions attached. Most professional associations require that the acknowledge the presentation of the manuscript at the association meeting.

Because the author is limited to submitting of a manuscript to only one journal and the review process for each jour requires a long period of time, contacting the editors of the journals may help the author determine which journal is likely to publish the manuscript. To interest the editor, the author should provide the following information: Topic, major idea or conclusion of the manuscript The subject sample, research setting conceptual framework, methodology type of organization or location The reasons why the author thinks the journals readers would be interested in the proposed article Requests for comments or suggestions on the usefulness of this type of article to the journal

While contacting the editor is helpful in selecting a journal that will be likely to publish the manuscript, the author co the Directory and the framework presented to develop a number of journals which would be likely to publish the manuscript. With this number of possible journals, contacting the editor is more feasible and tends to achieve the o of finding the journal most likely to publish the manuscript. << Return to Top >>

Relating the Theme of the Manuscript to the Topics of Articles Published by Each Journa

To begin the process of choosing editors to contact and/or submitting a manuscript, the author needs to examine th

similarity between the theme of the manuscript and the editor's needs. The Directory describes these needs by listi topics each publication considers important and the manuscript guidelines. To find those journals that publish manu in any particular area, refer to the topic index.

In attempting to classify the theme, the author should limit his choice to a single discipline. With the increasing specialization in the academic world, it is unlikely that reviewers, editors or readers will understand an article that re knowledge of two different disciplines. If these groups do not understand a manuscript, the journal will reject it.

If a manuscript emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach, it is important to decide who will be reading the article. T approach should be to explain the theoretical concepts of one discipline to the specialist in another discipline. The should not attempt to resolve theoretical issues present in his/her discipline and explain their implications for specia another discipline.

Although the discipline classifications indicate the number of journals interested in your manuscript topic, the manu guidelines help the author determine the journals that will most likely have the greatest interest in the manuscript. T manuscript guidelines provide a detailed statement of the criteria for judging manuscripts, the editorial objectives, th readership and the journal's content and approach. This information makes it possible to determine more precisely congruence between the manuscript and the type of articles the journal publishes. The Directory contains the manuscript guidelines for a large number of journals. << Return to Top >>

The Relationship of the Manuscript's Style and Methodology to the Significance of the Journal's Theme to the Discipline

In addition to determining the similarity between the topic of the manuscript and the topic of articles published by th journal, an examination of the significance of the theme to the discipline is also an important criterion in selecting a The journals with the lowest acceptance rate will tend to publish those manuscripts that make the most significant contributions to the advancement of the discipline. Since these journals receive a large number of manuscripts, the distinguish those manuscripts likely to make a significant contribution to the reader's knowledge. Defining newness or the contribution of any one study to the understanding of a discipline is difficult. However, it is possible to gain some insight into this definition by asking the following questions: Is the author stating the existence of a variable, trend or problem not previously recognized by the literature? Is the author testing the interactions of a different set of variables or events? Is the author presenting a new technique to cope with a problem or test an idea not previously presented in the lite Is the author using a subject sample with different characteristics than previously presented in the literature?

If the manuscript does not satisfy one of the first two categories, it is unlikely that a journal with a low acceptance ra accept it for publication. Thus, the author should send the manuscript to those journals where the acceptance rate higher.

Although the Directory provides the acceptance rates of manuscripts for many different journals, it is important to e the data on percentage of invited articles for each journal. A high acceptance rate may result because the editor ha leaders in the discipline to write articles on a particular subject. These invited articles are usually accepted. Since th author of an unsolicited manuscript competes with the leaders in the discipline, the manuscript will have to make a significant contribution to receive the editor's approval. << Return to Top >>

The Relationship of the Manuscript's Style and Methodology to the Journal's Readership

Another factor in selecting the journal to receive the manuscript is the journal's readership. The readers of each jou include academics (professors and researchers), practitioners, business persons, or administrators or a combinatio these groups.

Since the most important goal for an author is to publish the manuscript, the author should consider the prestige of journal only after the manuscript has a relatively high probability of being published by more than one journal. This probability is determined by the responses the author received to his query letter and the similarity between the fini manuscript and the needs of the journal.

The method of determining the prestige of a journal varies depending on its readership, review process and accept rate. If the readership is primarily administrators or practicing professionals and the goal of the author is to improve author's image and that of the institution, the journal's circulation would probably be the best indicator of prestige.

In contrast, the author whose goal is to become known among the author's colleagues might consider the type of re process the journal uses as well as its circulation. With a few exceptions, the most prestigious journals with academ readership use a refereed review process. << Return to Top >>

The Possible Results of the Review Process and the Selection of a Journal to Receive the Manuscript

Despite the fact that a journal with lower prestige would most likely publish the article, the author might be willing to chance on a journal with a greater amount of prestige. Since this will decrease the chances of manuscript acceptan author should also consider the consequences of rejection. The consequences include the knowledge the author w

from having his manuscript rejected.

To determine the amount of knowledge the author is likely to gain requires consideration of the number of reviewer journal uses in the review process, the availability of the reviewer's comments and the time required for the review process. If the journal makes the reviewer's comments available to the author, this provides a great learning opport Also, the more people that review the manuscript, the greater the author's knowledge will be concerning how to imp the present manuscript. Hopefully, the author will transfer the knowledge gained from writing this manuscript to futu manuscripts.

Should the review process take a small amount of time relative to a long period of time, the author is provided with greater opportunity to use this knowledge to revise the manuscript. To assist the author in determining those journa provide a suitable learning opportunity, each journal in the Directory includes information on the number of reviewe availability of reviewer's comments to the author and time required for review. << Return to Top >>

Sending the Manuscript

Before sending the manuscript to an editor, the author should write a cover letter, make sure the manuscript is corr typed, the format conforms to the journal's guidelines and the necessary copies have been included. It is imperative follow the correct submission process. The author should always keep a copy of the manuscript.

The cover letter sent with the manuscript makes it easy for the editor to select reviewers and monitor the manuscrip it is in the review process. This letter should include the title of the manuscript, the author name(s), mailing address phone and fax number(s) and e-mail addresses. In addition, this letter should provide a brief description of the man theme, its applicability and significance to the journal's readership. Finally, it should request a copy of the reviewer' comments regardless of whether the manuscript is accepted or rejected. << Return to Top >>

Receipt of the Reviewer's Comments

The reviewers may still reject the article although the author may have followed this procedure and taken every pre to avoid rejection. When this occurs, the author should focus on making those changes that would make the manus more understandable to the next editor and/or reviewer. These changes may include providing additional informatio and/or presenting the topic in a more concise manner. Also, the author needs to determine whether some error occ selecting the journal to receive the manuscript. Regardless of the source of the errors, the author needs to make th changes that will improve the manuscript's chances of being accepted by the next journal to receive it.

Unless the journal specifically requests the author to revise the manuscript for publication, the author should not se manuscript to the journal that first rejected it. In rejecting the manuscript, the reviewers implied that it could not be r to meet their standards for publication. Thus, sending it back to them would not improve the likelihood that the man will be accepted.

If your manuscript is accepted, go out and celebrate, but write another one very quickly. When you find you're doin something right, keep doing it so you won't forget. << Return to Top >>

WHAT IS A REFEREED JOURNAL?

With some exceptions, a refereed article is one that is blind reviewed and has two external reviewers. The blind rev requirement and the use of external reviewers are consistent with the research criteria of objectivity and of knowled

The use of a blind review process means that the author of the manuscript is not made known to the reviewer. With large number of reviewers and journals, it is also likely that the name of the reviewers for a particular manuscript is made known to the author. Thus, creating a double blind review process. Since the author and reviewers are frequ unknown, the manuscript is judged on its merits rather than on the reputation of the author and/or the author's influ the reviewers.

The use of two (2) reviewers permits specialists familiar with research similar to that presented in the paper to judg whether the paper makes a contribution to the advancement of knowledge. When two reviewers are used it provide broader perspective for evaluating the research. This perspective is further widened by the discussion between the and reviewers in seeking to reconcile these perspectives.

In contrast to these criteria, some journals that have attained a reputation for quality do not use either a blind review process or external reviewers. The most notable is Harvard Business Review that uses an editorial review process reputation for quality results from its readership whose continual subscription attests to its quality.

In addition to these criteria, some researchers include the journal's acceptance rate in their definition of a refereed However, the method of calculating acceptance rates varies among journals. Some journals use all manuscripts re as a base for computing this rate. Other journals allow the editor to choose which papers are sent to reviewers and calculate the acceptance rate on those that are reviewed. Also, many editors do not maintain accurate records on t and provide only a rough estimate.

Furthermore, the number of people associated with a particular area of specialization influences the acceptance ra only a few people can write papers in an area, it tends to increase the journal's acceptance rate.

Although the type of review process and use of external reviewers is one possible definition of a refereed article, it the only criteria. Judging the usefulness of a journal to the advancement of knowledge requires the reader to be fam

with many journals in their specialization and make their own evaluations.