New Instructions to Authors Emphasize Open Science, Transparency, Full Reporting of Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Sample, and Avoidance of Piecemeal Publication

Abstract

Who reads the Author guidelines? Probably the same people reading this editorial. At face value, Author Guidelines are the detailed guidelines for submitting a manuscript. If a manuscript submitted to the journal does not follow the guidelines, it will be returned for changes and resubmission. This lengthens the review process and creates extra work for all. More importantly, a journal’s Author Guidelines reflect the values of the journal, including standards for relevancy, rigor, ethics, transparency, clarity, brevity, and consistency of research communications, as well as ideals for removing bias in the review process. For example, the guideline that no identifying information—author names, research sites, project names, or clinical trials registration number—be in the manuscript ensures the double-masked review that the journal uses. Double-masked peer review means that the identity of both the author and reviewer is hidden. The hope is that if the author’s identity is unknown to the reviewer, it will minimize any bias (positive or negative).

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