GETTING IN - CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE OF MANUSCRIPTS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL-BULLETIN, 1993-1996

In this article, the authors review the quantified criteria that were used to make decisions regarding final actions for peer-reviewed manus cripts submitted without invitation to Psychological Bulletin during t he time period from January 1, 1993, to February 29, 1996. They analyz ed ratings provided by reviewers to determine what predictive value, i f any, the ratings had for ultimate acceptance or rejection. The autho rs analyzed the weights of the various criteria through correlation an d stepwise multiple-regression analysis. All ratings predicted final d ecisions, and these ratings were highly intercorrelated. The two stron gest predictors were contribution to field reviewed and appropriatenes s of manuscript for journal. A common factor analysis suggested two fa ctors underlying the ratings: overall appropriateness of a manuscript for the audience of any scientific journal and overall appropriateness of a manuscript for the audience of a particular journal.