Scientific method...

Kazza wrote:My group submitted a paper to a prestigious journal a few months ago. This was a precursor to a better, more advanced paper that I've been working on, but since it covered a simpler system we felt it would be better to pubilsh the simple one first.

First one was accepted. My one was rejected. Despite being a much better paper in all respects.

What's more annoying is that the reviewer obviously only skimmed over the paper (eg. the paper was about Titanium, but in his critique he refers to Vanadium, which is a completely different element). And in other parts he completely misunderstood it (which, admittedly, might mean we need to do a better job at explaining ourselves).


Anyway, not such a big deal, it just eats up lots of time. Now we need to address the responses, and delicately point out that the reviewer is a moron. If that doesn't work then we just submit to the next most prestigous journal (or perhaps one even more prestigious. My supervisor wants to submit to Nature, but I think it's unlikely to be published there.) Like I said, not such a big deal, but annoying because it means at least a month or more hold up on the next papers that we want to submit that follow on from this one.



Grr... Just needed to vent...

/rant

HotParadox wrote:

Kazza wrote:My group submitted a paper to a prestigious journal a few months ago. This was a precursor to a better, more advanced paper that I've been working on, but since it covered a simpler system we felt it would be better to pubilsh the simple one first.

First one was accepted. My one was rejected. Despite being a much better paper in all respects.

What's more annoying is that the reviewer obviously only skimmed over the paper (eg. the paper was about Titanium, but in his critique he refers to Vanadium, which is a completely different element). And in other parts he completely misunderstood it (which, admittedly, might mean we need to do a better job at explaining ourselves).


Anyway, not such a big deal, it just eats up lots of time. Now we need to address the responses, and delicately point out that the reviewer is a moron. If that doesn't work then we just submit to the next most prestigous journal (or perhaps one even more prestigious. My supervisor wants to submit to Nature, but I think it's unlikely to be published there.) Like I said, not such a big deal, but annoying because it means at least a month or more hold up on the next papers that we want to submit that follow on from this one.



Grr... Just needed to vent...

/rant

I can't tell you how much this bothers me. You put so much time and effort into this, never mind the years of study spent to get you to a place where you are able to contribute your ideas/work/findings to a prestigious journal. And then they basically skim over it.
On a much lower level, this is done to even very young school children who put so much thought and work into their projects and papers. It sends a subliminal message to kids that they are insignificant and not worthy of praise. It all starts early, as you know, K. And when it happens to your own little ones...well, let's just say that the frustration you feel now will be ten-fold.
I'm certain that you will be recognized WORLDWIDE regardless of this careless pack of reviewers.

Kazza wrote:

HotParadox wrote:

Kazza wrote:My group submitted a paper to a prestigious journal a few months ago. This was a precursor to a better, more advanced paper that I've been working on, but since it covered a simpler system we felt it would be better to pubilsh the simple one first.

First one was accepted. My one was rejected. Despite being a much better paper in all respects.

What's more annoying is that the reviewer obviously only skimmed over the paper (eg. the paper was about Titanium, but in his critique he refers to Vanadium, which is a completely different element). And in other parts he completely misunderstood it (which, admittedly, might mean we need to do a better job at explaining ourselves).


Anyway, not such a big deal, it just eats up lots of time. Now we need to address the responses, and delicately point out that the reviewer is a moron. If that doesn't work then we just submit to the next most prestigous journal (or perhaps one even more prestigious. My supervisor wants to submit to Nature, but I think it's unlikely to be published there.) Like I said, not such a big deal, but annoying because it means at least a month or more hold up on the next papers that we want to submit that follow on from this one.



Grr... Just needed to vent...

/rant

I can't tell you how much this bothers me. You put so much time and effort into this, never mind the years of study spent to get you to a place where you are able to contribute your ideas/work/findings to a prestigious journal. And then they basically skim over it.
On a much lower level, this is done to even very young school children who put so much thought and work into their projects and papers. It sends a subliminal message to kids that they are insignificant and not worthy of praise. It all starts early, as you know, K. And when it happens to your own little ones...well, let's just say that the frustration you feel now will be ten-fold.
I'm certain that you will be recognized WORLDWIDE regardless of this careless pack of reviewers.

Thanks HP. Unfortunately this happens sometimes. In the long run, it's better that reviewers are too harsh than too gentle - it maintains the high quality of published papers. But still, frustrating when they don't take the time to understand the work properly.

Old Timer wrote:
I was always told that one success was the result of many failures. You cannot give up, but must continue to apply and doing so will greatly enhance your chances of success. Wish you the very best and good luck.