Editors GuidelinesClear editorial expectations
Guidance for editors who oversee peer review in verbal behavior research.
Editorial Role
Editors assess scope fit, select reviewers, and ensure decisions are evidence based. The role requires fairness, confidentiality, and adherence to publication ethics.
Key Responsibilities
Core tasks
Scope Assessment
Confirm alignment with verbal behavior priorities.
Reviewer Selection
Invite qualified, unbiased reviewers.
Decision Letters
Provide clear and constructive decisions.
Ethics Oversight
Identify conflicts and compliance issues.
Join the Editorial Team
Apply to serve as an editor and help shape verbal behavior publishing.
Email the Editorial OfficeRequest InformationConfidentiality
Editors must keep submissions confidential and avoid sharing content outside the review process.
Decision Standards
Decisions should be based on methodological rigor, ethical compliance, and relevance. Seek additional expertise when needed.
Conflict Management
Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist. Declare conflicts promptly to maintain trust and impartiality.
Reviewer Selection
Select reviewers with relevant subject expertise and methodological knowledge. Avoid overusing the same reviewers to reduce fatigue and bias.
Timely Decisions
Monitor review timelines and send reminders when needed. Efficient decision making supports author satisfaction and publication schedules.
Ethics Flags
Editors should escalate concerns about consent, data integrity, or plagiarism to the editorial office. Early intervention prevents later issues.
Professional Communication
Decision letters should be clear, constructive, and respectful. Provide actionable guidance so authors understand revision expectations.
Revision Management
When revisions are submitted, confirm that reviewer concerns were addressed and that changes are clearly documented. Request additional review only when needed.
Desk Rejection Criteria
Editors may decline manuscripts that fall outside scope, lack ethical approvals, or fail to meet basic reporting standards. Clear reasons help authors improve.
Board Collaboration
Editors collaborate with the editorial board to maintain consistent decisions and identify emerging topics in verbal behavior research.
Reviewer Disagreements
When reviews conflict, editors should weigh evidence carefully and may seek an additional review. Transparent rationale helps authors understand decisions.
Editorial Training
Editors receive periodic updates on ethics guidance, reporting standards, and peer review best practices to maintain consistent decision quality. Training also covers bias mitigation and inclusive review practices for diverse research contexts. Editors are encouraged to share feedback on workflow improvements and reviewer performance. These insights help refine journal policies over time for better decisions.
