RESPONDING TO REVIEWER COMMENTS Irwan Supriyanto Bagian Ilmu Kedokteran Jiwa Fakultas Kedokteran UGM 2014

4 types of response from your editor – Accepted without any changes – Accepted with minor revisions (provisional acceptance) – Accepted with major revisions (provisional rejection) – Flat rejection 12/10/20152

REJECTION 12/10/20153

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8 reasons why editor rejected your manuscript – It fails the technical screening – It does not fall within the Aims and Scope – It’s incomplete – The procedure and/or analysis is seen to be defective – The conclusions cannot be justified on the basis of the rest of the paper – It’s simply an extension of different paper – It’s incomprehensible – Its boring or unattractive 12/10/20155

ACCEPTED WITH REVISIONS 12/10/20156

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Tips responding to reviewer comments 1.Get mad. Then get over it 2.Consider what the editor decision letter really says 3.Wait and gather your thoughts 4.Even if the reviewer is wrong, it does not mean you are right 5.Choose your battle wisely 12/10/20159

6.Do not pit one reviewer against another 7.Be grateful for the reviewers’ and editor’s time 8.Restate the reviewer’s or editor’s comment when responding 9.Be prepared to cut down your manuscript 10.Do not submit the same version to another journal 12/10/201510

What the reviewers usually want 1.Request for clarification of text, addition or omission of text, or additional details 2.Request to re-analyze, re-express, or re-interpret existing data 3.Request for additional experiments or further proof of your concept 4.Request simply you cannot meet 12/10/201511

Changes and Modifications – Change and modify where it makes sense – No requirement to make every suggested change, but address all comments – You must have a good reason for rejecting a suggestion – Sometimes, it’s worth to let go.. 12/10/201512

Conflicting Reviewer Comments – Choose the comment that seems more valid (to the best of your knowledge) – Note your change to the reviewer’s comment you chose to accept – Note the conflict to the other reviewer (and hope you made the best choice) – Never confront the two 12/10/201513

Rejecting Reviewer Comments – You can reject reviewer comments if you have strong arguments – Lay out your arguments and clarify more about your findings – Never states that the reviewer is wrong – There a possibility that you are the cause of this comments 12/10/201514

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