Editorial: A General Approach to Publication in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology: From the Process of Preparing Your Manuscript to Revisions and Resubmissions

The Journal of Pediatric Psychology aims to publish high-quality, original research; integrated reviews of the literature; case studies; and commentaries that are associated with the theory, research, and professional practice in pediatric psychology. In this effort, it is my goal as well as that of the Associate Editors to improve the readability and quality of submitted manuscripts and to enhance the peer-review process. This editorial offers suggestions to authors on writing for the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, reporting statistical information for the Journal, and responding to reviewers’ comments on articles that already have been submitted and have made it through the first stage of the review process. Much of this editorial contains anecdotal information that I have gleaned from my service as an Editorial Board member for this journal as well as several others in our field, the mentoring of numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty in the writing process, and finally during my tenure as Editor of this journal as well as another journal in the field. Thus, I wish to point out that my words of advice are based on case study and clinical wisdom, as well as recent published literature in the area, rather than on empirical data. There are available to the interested reader some worthwhile sources (Browner, 1999; Cummings & Rivara, 2002; Drotar, 2000a, b; Kazdin, 1995; Williams, 1999), including the venerable Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, fifth edition (American Psychological Association, 2001), which I always recommend for review to any author regardless of the author’s experience with manuscript preparation. Initiating the editorial process, your manuscript arrives at the editorial office and you as the corresponding author are notified of its arrival and assignment to reviewers. We attempt to have a manuscript reviewed by at least three reviewers, one of whom must be on our Editorial Board. Manuscripts are always read blind: The reviewers do not know the identity of the author and the author does not know the reviewers. It should be noted that a primary intent of the review of a manuscript is to enhance the quality of the work and to provide helpful and constructive advice to authors. The reviewer is asked to return a written critique to the Editor as well as a recommendation on the suitability of the manuscript for publication in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology within approximately one month after receipt of the manuscript. Finally, either the Editor or the Associate Editor collates the reviews and makes a final decision with regard to the disposition of the manuscript, and a detailed letter is prepared for the author. Reviewers of the Journal are not compensated financially for their efforts, and given the extensive time involved in this process, I have always been impressed with the meticulous and detailed reviews that are provided to authors by members of our Editorial Board as well as from our esteemed colleagues who serve as ad hoc reviewers. Authors can learn much from the peer review process that may frequently provide them with significant insights into refining their research or launching the next stage of a program of research. It is a process that I have come to value and respect over the years in my roles as a reviewer, author, and more recently editor.