The EJOLTs Review Process

The EJOLTs review process is summarised in the diagram below. The six steps in the overall process are highlighted in orange, with outcomes and actions highlighted in blue.

The review process has been developed to be rigorous and evaluative – and also to be educational for both the author(s) and for the members of the EJOLTs review teams involved.

Step 1: Initial sifting

First of all, any paper submitted must be accepted for review. The Editor and the Editorial Board make an initial assessment to ensure that the paper is within the scope of EJOLTs. The Editor then informs the author whether the paper has been accepted for review or not. If rejected, reasons will be given to help the author to strengthen the paper for a future submission to EJOLTs – or the author may be advised to consider submitting to another journal.

Step 2: Double-blind Review

Papers that pass the initial sifting stage are sent by the Editor for double-blind review, as employed by most academic journals.

Reviewers focus on how well the paper meets the main publishing criteria. That is, the paper must:

be of high academic and scholarly quality
includethe distinguishing qualities of a Living Educational Theory Research methodology

and/or

make a contribution to the field of Living Educational Theory Research

The paper must also meet the other subsidiary aspects of the publishing criteria.

Each of the reviewers send the Editor a completed blind-review rubric with a clear recommendation that either:

a) The paper meets all the publishing criteria, with or without minor amendments; where minor amendments are required, the rubric indicates each specific revision needed, so that all the publishing criteria are well met.

b) The paper does not meet all the criteria and requires major revision; the reviewer indicates on the rubric the areas that need attention and recommends the paper and its author enter the Open Review stage (Stage 4).

c) The submission is not within the scope of EJOLTs and would be better suited for submission to another journal (with possible suggestions if known).

Papers that do not successfully pass the double-blind review stage

The author(s) will be informed that the paper does not meet the criteria for publication but, should they wish to revise it by using the responses from the reviewers to guide them, they could resubmit the paper. If the paper is judged not to be within the scope of EJOLTs, then they will be advised to consider submitting to another journal.

Step 3: Editorial Board Review

The Editor brings a composite summary of the reviewers' advice to the Editorial Board. The Editorial Board decides whether or not the paper passes to the open review stage (Step 4), requires further work before resubmission or is not within the scope of EJOLTs. The Editor informs the author(s )accordingly.

Step 4: Open Review

If the paper is judged to fall within the scope of EJOLTs but requires further work, the author will be invited to engage in an online conversation in the 'open review space' with two or three reviewers who are firmly experienced in the field of Living Educational Theory Research. The author and the team are provided with copies of the composite summary of the rubric from the Editorial Board Review (Step 3).

The author/s and the members of the Open Review Team work together to enable the author to strengthen their paper and in the process develop their knowledge, understanding and practice of Living Educational Theory Research. The conversation takes place in a public space online so that others may learn from it. The publication criteria guidance sheet is provided to guide the conversation.

When the appointed team advises the Editor that the paper is of appropriate quality to be considered for publication, the Editor sends the paper to the Editorial Board for their decision.

Step 5: Editorial Board Review

The Editorial Board reviews the latest version of the paper against the publishing criteria; board members also assess the contribution the paper makes to the journal in realising its stated purpose, scope and aim. The Editorial Board finally decides whether to prepare the paper for publication or to ask the author to make further amendments.

Step 6: Prepare for Publishing

When the paper is judged ready for publication, it is carefully proof-read and amended where necessary and then set in the EJOLTs style template. The author is sent a copy, which they sign off as ready for publishing.

The paper then 'goes to press' and is published.