The Nuts‐and‐Bolts of Publishing in the BJIR II: Evaluation Criteria
| Published date | 01 September 2016 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/bjir.12195 |
| Date | 01 September 2016 |
| Author | John Godard |
British Journal of Industrial Relations doi: 10.1111/bjir.12195
54:3 September 2016 0007–1080 pp. 461–472
Editorial
The Nuts-and-Bolts of Publishing
in the BJIR II: Evaluation Criteria
This is the second of three editorials on the nuts-and-bolts of publishing in the
BJIR. It outlines the criteria that editors take into account when evaluating a
paper. At the BJIR, decisions aregenerally left to the judgement of individual
editors, and the weighteditors attach to specific criteria can vary depending on
the paper in question. But it is possible to identify five dierent if overlapping
general criteria that editors draw on. For present, it is useful to phrase them
as questions, as follows:
1. Do the topic and method of the paper fall within the journal’s purview?
2. Is the paper likely to be relevant to the journal’s readership?
3. Is the paper of sucient quality?
4. Is the paper’s potential contribution likely to be significant?
5. Overall, is the paper compelling and convincing?
Below,the third of these questions receives the greatest attention. However,
as is evident, it is only one of fivequestions. Often, it is the ability to adequately
address one or more of the remaining questions, not just whether the paper is
of sucient quality, that turns out to be critical for acceptance or rejection.
Before proceeding, it is important to stipulate that we accept two “types”
of paper. The first, which can be referred to as a “type I” paper, is directed
at addressing a specific research topic or theory through the original analysis
of “data” (qualitative as well as quantitative) either collected by the author
or obtained through secondary sources. The second, which can be referred
to as a “type II” paper, may draw on available data, but is typically directed
at critically reviewing, assessing, and advancing the literature in a topic area.
It may also apply or develop an alternative lens or theory for understanding
and researching this area, possibly even drawing on original research or the
research of others to demonstrate the value of this lens or theory. In the ideal,
it will accomplish some combination of both of these purposes.
The BJIR does not receive enough type II papers and, we think, this is a
significant shortcoming of both the journal and of industrial relations as a
general area studies. We therefore encourage authors to consider submitting
them. The “risk” is higher, because these papersmust make a real intellectual
contribution to the journal’s subject matter to stand much chance of making
it through our refereeing process. But the “payo”can also be higher, as these
papers can be highly influential.
C
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