This document summarizes a presentation given by Kazunori Nozawa on publishing in scholarly journals. Nozawa discusses what constitutes a scholarly publication and peer-reviewed journal. He provides an overview of the Computer Assisted Language Learning Electronic Journal (CALL-EJ) publication process, including manuscript preparation, internal and external reviews, revisions, and final publication. Common reasons for manuscript rejection include issues with language, methodology, formatting, and literature reviews. Nozawa provides recommendations for authors to avoid rejection, such as thoroughly reviewing submission guidelines and checking for grammar, plagiarism, and adherence to publication standards.
1. CALL Issues for Scholarly
Publication: Perspectives
from an Editor
The 3rd International Conference on
English Language Teaching (ICON-ELT)
2022 Workshop
2022/10/18
Kazunori Nozawa
Professor Emeritus
Ritsumeikan University, Japan
nozawa@is.ritsumei.ac.jp
CALL-EJ Editor-in-Chief
http://callej.org/
2. Outline
● What is a Scholarly Publication?
● Overview of Computer Assisted Language Learning
Electronic Journal (CALL-EJ)
● Requirements for a manuscript preparation
● Internal and external reviews
● Revisions and formatting
● Publishing
● Conclusion and Recommendation
2
3. Halo!
I am Kazunori Nozawa.
● Professor Emeritus &
Part-time Lecturer, Ritsumeikan
University, Japan
● EFL, NVC, EduTech, ICC
● CALL-EJ Editor-in-Chief
You can find me more at
3
4. What is a Scholarly Journal?
A scholarly journal is also called:
• academic journals,
• scientific journals,
• peer-reviewed journals
5. What is a Scholarly Journal?
Nonprofit Organizations Research Guide
(n.d.)
A periodical that contains articles written
by experts in a particular field of study and
reports the results of research in that field.
6. What is a Scholarly Journal?
Simon Fraser University Library (n. d.):
• Articles are written by and for faculty, researchers or scholars
(chemists, historians, doctors, artists, etc.)
• Use scholarly or technical language
• Articles tend to be long and detailed, about research in a
particular academic discipline
• Include full citations for sources
• Are often refereed or peer-reviewed
• Include information about the authors
• Are published by academic organizations
• Note: book reviews and editorials are not considered scholarly
articles, even when found in scholarly journals
7. Study.com (n.d.). Peer Reviewed Scholarly
Journal: Definition & Examples (2’55”)
What is a Scholarly Journal?
8. “
A Refereed Journal: Definitions
8
CQU Library, Australia (n. d.): A refereed
journal contains articles that have been
through a peer review process
DifferenceBetween.com (2021): A peer-reviewed journal
refers to a scholarly journal evaluated by experts with
similar competencies. These experts can be the author’s
peers.
Angelo State University, U.S.A. (n. d.):
Articles are written by experts and are reviewed
by several other experts in the field before the
article is published in the journal in order to
ensure the article’s quality.
Virginia Tech University Library, U.S.A. (n.
d.): A refereed journal, or peer reviewed journal,
is a specific type of publication that meets the
high standards and rigor expected with
academic publishing. Refereed articles within
the journal have been reviewed by a blind
editorial panel for rigor in research and
appropriateness of conclusions.
Simon Fraser University, Canada (n. d.): Peer-reviewed
or refereed journals have an editorial board of subject
experts who review and evaluate submitted articles before
accepting them for publication. A journal may be a
scholarly journal but not a peer-reviewed journal.
9. Different Models (Wiley, n. d.)
9
Single
blind
Double
blind
Open Peer
review
Collaborative
Transparent
Peer
Review
Post
Publication
Author
doesn't
know the
identity of
the reviewer.
Reviewer
doesn't know
the identity
of the author,
and vice-
versa.
The identity
of the author
and the
reviewer is
known by all
participants,
during or
after the
review
process.
Review report
is posted with
the published
article.
Reviewer can
choose if they
want to share
their identity.
Two or
more
reviewers
work
together to
submit a
unified
report.
Review
solicited or
unsolicited, of a
published
paper. Does not
exclude other
forms of peer
review.
10. Scholarly Journals for Language
Education and Technology
• AsiaCALL Online Journal -
https://www.asiacall.info/acoj/index.php/journal
• CALICO Journal -
https://journals.equinoxpub.com/CALICO
• Computer Assisted Language Learning Electronic
Journal - http://callej.org/
• Computer Assisted Language Learning -
https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ncal20
• International Journal of Computer-Assisted
Language Learning and Teaching -
https://www.igi-global.com/journal/international-
journal-computer-assisted-language/41023
10
11. Scholarly Journals for Language Education
and Technology
• Journal of Foreign Language Education and
Technology - https://www.jflet.com/Language
• Language Learning & Technology -
https://www.lltjournal.org/
• Language Education & Technology -
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/let/-char/en
• ReCALL Journal - https://www.eurocall-
languages.org/publications/recall-journal
• The JALT CALL Journal -
https://www.castledown.com/journals/jaltcall/
11
13. CALL-EJ Timeline
Started
OnCALL in
Australia
and CALL
EJ (1996-
1999) in
Japan were
merged
together to
be CALL-EJ
Online
Indexed
• European
Reference
Index for the
Humanities
(ERIH).
• Scopus
• National Diet
Library (NDL)
• Web of
Science/Publ
ons
New Record
2020: 126
2021: 171
(2022: 100↑)
2020-22
2011-20
2010
1999
Name changed
CALL-EJ
Online was
renamed
to CALL-EJ.
14. CALL-EJ
Team (2022)
All volunteer-minded leading
professionals from the world
Editorial Board Reviewers
16 Members
Japan, Spain, Iran,
Malaysia, Thailand,
Indonesia, South
Korea, U.S.A.
20 Countries
East Asia, Southeast
Asia, Middle East,
Australia & NZ, USA,
UK
15.
16.
17.
18. Peer Review Process (CALL-EJ)
Revision and Resubmission
Double blinded Reviews
Internal Review by Editors and Revised &
Resubmission
APA7 Written Manuscript (Word)
Submission with a Plagiarism Check Report
(e.g., Turnitin)
>15%
Similarity
index
3rd Review
20. How long does it take to be
accepted or rejected? (CALL-EJ)
• The article has been accepted (the
shortest time in 2021-22): 2 months
• The article has been accepted (the
longest time in 2021): 7 months
• The article has been rejected (the
shortest time in 2022): 1 month
• The article has been rejected (the
longest time in 2021): 6 months
Often 3rd
review
happened
21. Eight reasons why articles are accepted
Hernando (2020, March)
1
2
3
4
the manuscript deals with some
emerging theme
must be original
abound in the importance of
metadata (title, abstract and
keywords)
the manuscript to be correctly
structured and written
22. Eight reasons why articles are accepted
5
6
7
8
the references are relevant
the importance of methodological
rigor and the adequacy of research
instruments
attached to the elaboration of
results, discussion and conclusions
abound in a series of “plus criteria”
such as research articles, etc.
23. Eight reasons why articles are rejected
Thrower (2012, September)
1
2
3
4
It fails the technical screening.
It does not fall within the Aims
and Scope.
It's incomplete.
The procedures and/or analysis of
the data is seen to be defective.
24. Eight reasons why articles are rejected
5
6
7
8
It's simply a small extension of a
different paper, often from the same
authors.
The conclusions cannot be justified
on the basis of the rest of the paper.
It's incomprehensible.
It's boring.
25. Problems Found
01
02
03
04
Language (English)
No spell and grammar
checked
Methodology
Single method (only a
questionnaire and results),
lack of collected data,
treatment and length, etc.
Paper Format
Without reading of the
submission guidelines (pdf
vs Word, letter vs A4, Right
to Left writing, No
plagiarism report, etc.).
Literature Review
Outdated or lack of latest
references, inaccurate in-text
citations, not in APA7 referencing,
plagiarism issue, etc. .
28. Why were Indonesian Manuscripts Rejected?
• The manuscript does not fit in the journal since the main
topic is not technology in language learning/teaching.
• The manuscript has some weaknesses that require
significant improvement, even though it is a well-
organized one.
• There were major issues related to grammar and word
choice throughout the paper. In some cases, these issues
made it unclear what the authors were trying to
communicate.
• The manuscript was poorly written, the abstract was
unclear, and the methodology was not described clearly.
Neither the research nor the literature review is related
to language learning.
Purpose,
Methodology,
Main findings,
Implications,
Novelty
29. Why were Indonesian Manuscripts Rejected?
• The title warrants a more qualitative rich analysis.
Although a mixed methodology is used, the data
discussed is mainly on statistics.
• The references, except for a few are rather outdated.
• The manuscript is not well written as an academic paper
with so many basic issues in English while the literature
review is outdated.
30. Why were Indonesian Manuscripts Rejected?
• The experiment was fundamentally flawed, as well as depending on
too small of a sample. The biggest flaw was that the author was
comparing two separate skill sets; apples and oranges.
• The manuscript does not fit the journal’s objectives only with a
theory or a design. It has to include some practical data and analysis
results.
• Technology only plays a very secondary role in this paper, though It
is well-written, and a significant part of the interaction is done
through technology.
• Although a mixed methodology is used, the data discussed is mainly
on statistics.
• The manuscript should provide readers with some global findings
and implications instead of some local and parochial aspects of their
study.
31. Why were Indonesian Manuscripts Rejected?
• A small-scale study should have adopted a much different
research design as the sample size is too small for
generalizability. Even if the findings are not generalizable,
there is no sense as to how what is presented is different
from what already exists. For such a smaller sample a mixed-
methods approach might have been preferred where priority
is given to qualitative criteria where the notions of reliability
and validity are much different.
• Even though the article is well written and well organized, the
manuscript does not present any state-of-the-art conclusions.
• The quality of writing is very poor. It is wordy and often
incomprehensible. Simplifying the language would go a long
way to making it readable.
32. Recommendations
to avoid rejection
Visit the journal website and understand the scope
or objectives. Then write your manuscript in the
same style of published articles or following the
sample style if available.
Use a mixed method (a questionnaire and
interviews), collect enough data, and analyze
with a statistical software like SPSS.
Check the final version with Grammarly or a
similar spell and grammar checker or ask a
qualified native speaker of English to check and
then use Turnitin to make sure it is less than 15%
similarity index before its submission.
Review at least several references published in
the past five years and cite them in APA7 style.
APA7 training – Scribbr
(2021) or APA Overview of
Purdue's OWL (2020) are
good sites to check!
33. 6 Tips That Will Save You From Journal Rejection
Enago Academy (n. d.).
Choose one and right journal
Follow author/submission
guidelines
Avoid duplication and plagiarism
Focus on significant and new findings
Avoid discrepancies and answer the
research questions
Address ethical concerns
35. References
• Angelo State University, U.S.A. (n. d.). Library Guides: How to recognize peer-reviewed
(refereed) journals. https://www.angelo.edu/library/handouts/peerrev.php
• APA: Overview of Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) (2020). https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=4TG0Wfurxzg
• CQU Library, Australia (n. d.). - Q. What is a refereed journal? 21212 ANSWER.
https://libanswers.library.cqu.edu.au/faq/160527
• DifferenceBetwen.com (2021). What is the Difference Between Peer Reviewed and Refereed
Journal. https://www.differencebetween.com/what-is-the-difference-between-peer-reviewed-
and-refereed-journal/#:~:text=A%20refereed%20journal%20is%20another,the%20
same%20field%20 before%20publishing
• Carleton University Library (2019, 3'25") What is a peer reviewed journal article?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8gaq7ei7zc
• Enago Academy (n. d.). 6 Tips That Will Save You From Journal Rejection.
https://www.enago.com/academy/6-tips-that-will-save-you-from-journal-rejection/
• Hernando, A. (2020, March). Eight reasons why articles are accepted (or not accepted)
https://doi.org/10.3916/school-of-authors-121
36. • Nonprofit Organizations Research Guide (n.d.). What is a Scholarly Journal?
https://libguides.unomaha.edu/c.php?g=100306&p=650509
• Sage Publishing (2022). How to Get Published: Submitting Your Paper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAd7HtbIjlA
• Simon Fraser University Library (n. d.): What is a scholarly (or peer-reviewed) journal?
https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/research-assistance/format-type/scholarly-journals
• Study.com (n.d.). Peer Reviewed Scholarly Journal: Definition & Examples.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/peer-reviewed-scholarly-journal-definition-examples-
quiz.html
• Thrower, P. (2012, September). Eight reasons I rejected your article.
https://www.elsevier.com/connect/8-reasons-i-rejected-your-article
• Virginia Tech University Library, U.S.A. (n. d.). Evaluation Methods in Education: Refereed
Journals. https://guides.lib.vt.edu/c.php?g=134398&p=880869
• Wiley (n. d.). Types of Peer Review at Wiley journals.
https://authorservices.wiley.com/Reviewers/journal-reviewers/what-is-peer-review/types-of-
peer-review.html
References
37. Write your manuscript by
following the submission
guidelines accurately and
submit to a right journal!
Don’t forget to do both grammar
and Plagiarism checks and submit
the report together with your
manuscript!
Recommendation
39. Credits
Special thanks to all the people who
organized and held this awesome event:
● Dr. M. Faruq Ubaidillah
Department of English Education
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
Universitas Islam Malang
Jl. M.T. Haryono No. 193, Malang, East Java,
Indonesia
39
Editor's Notes
The articles are intended to be read by other experts or students of the field, and they are typically much more sophisticated and advanced than the articles found in general magazines.
Blue line 2021; Brown line 2022
YouTube video (2022, 2’35”) How to Get Published: Submitting Your Paper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAd7HtbIjlA