Why 90% Research Articles Get Desk Rejection From Scopus Index Journals? How to Avoid Desk Rejection

Dr Munshi Naser -Skill Tone
23 Sept 202406:38

TLDRDr. Muni Naser discusses the reasons why 90% of research articles are desk rejected by Scopus index journals. The main reasons are the lack of a clear research gap, improper journal formatting, and plagiarism. To avoid rejection, emphasize the research gap in the introduction, follow the journal's formatting guidelines meticulously, and avoid plagiarism by using AI tools responsibly.

Takeaways

  • 📄 **Research Gap Importance**: Mention a significant research gap in the first two paragraphs of your introduction to avoid desk rejection.
  • 🖋️ **Journal Formatting**: Adhere strictly to the journal's author guidelines for formatting to increase the chances of passing the desk editorial review.
  • 🚫 **Avoid Plagiarism**: Ensure your manuscript is free from plagiarism and similarity issues to prevent desk rejection.
  • 🔄 **Balancing AI Use**: Use AI tools for assistance but maintain a balance by paraphrasing key sections yourself to ensure originality.
  • 🔑 **First Paragraph Focus**: Place emphasis on the research gap or problem in the first paragraph of your manuscript introduction.
  • 📐 **Follow Guidelines Meticulously**: Do not skip any part of the author guidelines when formatting your research paper.
  • ✅ **Template Usage**: Utilize word templates provided by publishers like Springer to align your manuscript with journal expectations.
  • ⏩ **Direct to Review**: If your paper follows the above steps, it is more likely to bypass desk rejection and proceed to the reviewer stage.
  • 🔄 **Revision Opportunities**: Even if your paper requires major or minor revisions, it's a step towards potential publication in a Scopus indexed journal.
  • 👋 **Stay Tuned**: Look forward to more research tutorials for further insights into successful publication strategies.

Q & A

  • Why do a significant number of research articles get desk rejection from Scopus index journals?

    -A significant number of research articles get desk rejection because they either lack a significant research gap, do not follow the journal's formatting guidelines, or contain plagiarism detected by similarity checks.

  • What is the role of the research gap in the acceptance of a research article by Scopus index journals?

    -The research gap is crucial as it demonstrates the need for the study. If a research gap is not clearly mentioned in the introduction, particularly in the first two or three paragraphs, the article is likely to be desk rejected.

  • Why is it important to follow the journal's formatting guidelines when submitting a research article?

    -Following the journal's formatting guidelines is important because it shows that the author has taken the time to understand and respect the journal's requirements. Failure to do so can result in immediate desk rejection.

  • What are the three main reasons for desk rejection according to Dr. Muni Naser?

    -The three main reasons for desk rejection according to Dr. Muni Naser are the lack of research gap, lack of adherence to journal formatting guidelines, and the presence of plagiarism or similarity issues.

  • How can researchers ensure their research gap is clearly communicated in their manuscript?

    -Researchers should mention the research gap in the first two or three paragraphs of the introduction, ideally in the first paragraph itself, with appropriate referencing.

  • What is the impact of plagiarism on the desk rejection process?

    -Plagiarism can lead to immediate desk rejection. It is important to avoid plagiarism by being honest, using paraphrasing tools, and ensuring the manuscript is written in the author's own words.

  • How can authors avoid similarity issues when writing their research articles?

    -Authors can avoid similarity issues by paraphrasing key paragraphs themselves, ensuring a low similarity index, and not relying solely on AI tools for writing the entire manuscript.

  • What is the advice given by Dr. Muni Naser regarding the use of AI tools in writing research articles?

    -Dr. Muni Naser advises against relying solely on AI tools for writing the entire manuscript. Instead, authors should use AI tools for assistance while maintaining their own voice and ensuring the content is original.

  • What are the two types of desk rejection mentioned in the script?

    -The two types of desk rejection mentioned are immediate desk rejection, which happens without further review, and the second type where the manuscript is checked for similarity and cross-references before being sent to reviewers.

  • What should researchers do to increase the chances of their paper passing the desk editorial board?

    -To increase the chances of passing the desk editorial board, researchers should clearly state the research gap in the introduction, follow the journal's formatting guidelines, and avoid plagiarism or high similarity indexes.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Research Article Rejection

Dr. Muni Naser discusses the common reasons why research articles are rejected by journal editors. The primary focus is on the importance of identifying a significant research gap in the introduction section of the paper, which is crucial for the manuscript to proceed to the review stage. Additionally, adherence to the journal's formatting guidelines is emphasized, as failure to do so can lead to immediate rejection. The video also touches on the issue of plagiarism and the use of AI tools in writing, suggesting that researchers should balance AI assistance with their own writing to ensure originality and avoid a high similarity index, which is detrimental to the publication process.

05:02

🔑 Keys to Avoiding Editorial Rejection

In the second paragraph, Dr. Muni Naser outlines three key strategies to prevent editorial rejection of research articles. The first is to clearly articulate the research gap in the introduction. The second is to meticulously follow the journal's author guidelines for formatting the manuscript. Lastly, it is advised to avoid plagiarism by ensuring the paper is original and has a low similarity index. By adhering to these guidelines, the paper is more likely to pass the editorial board and proceed to peer review, increasing the chances of successful publication in a Scopus-indexed journal. The tutorial concludes with an assurance that following these steps will be beneficial for researchers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Desk Rejection

Desk rejection refers to the immediate rejection of a manuscript by the editorial board without sending it out for peer review. This occurs when the submission does not meet the journal's criteria or is not aligned with the journal's aims and scope. In the video, Dr. Muni Naser explains that 90% of research articles face desk rejection, often due to a lack of research gap, improper formatting, or plagiarism.

💡Research Gap

A research gap is an area of inquiry that has not been sufficiently explored in existing literature. Identifying a research gap is crucial for justifying the need for new research. In the video, Dr. Naser emphasizes the importance of clearly stating the research gap in the introduction section of a manuscript to avoid desk rejection.

💡Journal Formatting

Journal formatting pertains to the specific style and structural guidelines that a journal requires for manuscript submissions. These guidelines may include citation style, font size, headings, and more. The video script mentions that not adhering to journal formatting guidelines can lead to desk rejection.

💡Author Guidelines

Author guidelines are instructions provided by journals to assist authors in preparing their manuscripts for submission. These guidelines ensure that the submission is formatted correctly and meets the journal's standards. Dr. Naser advises following these guidelines meticulously to increase the chances of passing the desk editorial review.

💡Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using another person's work or ideas without proper attribution. It is a serious academic offense that can lead to rejection or retraction of a manuscript. The video warns against relying too heavily on AI tools for writing, which can inadvertently introduce plagiarism.

💡AI Tools

AI tools refer to artificial intelligence software that can assist with writing and editing tasks. While these tools can be helpful, the video advises caution as they might introduce plagiarism or a lack of originality in the manuscript.

💡Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is the act of restating someone else's work in one's own words. It is a technique used to avoid plagiarism and to demonstrate understanding of the source material. Dr. Naser encourages researchers to paraphrase key sections of their manuscripts to ensure originality.

💡Scopus Index

Scopus is a large abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature. Being indexed in Scopus is a mark of prestige for journals and indicates that they meet certain quality standards. The video discusses strategies to avoid desk rejection to increase the likelihood of being published in a Scopus-indexed journal.

💡Manuscript

A manuscript is the document containing the text and images of a research paper that is submitted for publication. The term is used in the video to refer to the complete work that researchers submit to journals for consideration.

💡Peer Review

Peer review is the process by which other experts in the same field evaluate the quality of a research paper. It is a crucial step in the publication process and typically occurs after a manuscript has passed the initial desk review. The video implies that avoiding desk rejection is the first step towards undergoing peer review.

💡Revision

Revision refers to the process of making changes to a manuscript based on feedback from reviewers or editors. The video suggests that after passing the desk review, a manuscript may receive major or minor revisions, which is a normal part of the publication process.

Highlights

90% of research articles get desk rejection from Scopus Index Journals.

Reasons behind desk rejection of research articles.

Lack of research gap is a major reason for desk rejection.

Mentioning the research gap in the introduction is crucial.

Proper journal formatting is essential to avoid desk rejection.

Author guidelines must be strictly followed for formatting.

Using AI to write articles can lead to plagiarism issues.

Paraphrase tools should be used with caution to avoid plagiarism.

Balancing AI use with personal writing is recommended.

Low similarity index is a criterion to pass the desk editorial board.

Immediate desk rejection is one type of rejection.

Checking journal similarity and cross-referencing is part of the review process.

Following the three important steps can help pass the desk editorial board.

Formatting according to the journal's author guidelines is a key step.

Avoiding plagiarism and ensuring originality is important for publication.

Getting past the desk editorial board leads to reviewer stages.

There is always a chance for revision after the reviewer's feedback.

Following the advice increases the chances of publication in a Scopus index journal.