Sobre el rechazo de artículos científicos y la gestión editorial: un estudio exploratorio

This work aims to identify the attitudes of researchers who have received a rejection of articles in the editorial process of scientific journals, emphasizing the rejection of articles and the forms of communication of this verdict. A mixed, exploratory, cross-sectional design study was carried out. The population consisted of Spanish-speaking researchers who had submitted articles to scientific journals and had at least one article rejection in their professional careers. The sampling was non-probabilistic, of the accidental type, reaching a total of 92 informants. A mixed questionnaire was applied, validated by experts, and based on a pilot test. The results show the occurrence of justified and unjustified rejections, acceptance of justified and argued rejection, and feelings such as frustration, disappointment, incomprehension, and anger when there are unjustified rejections or reports with derogatory expressions that have not been filtered by the editors; experienced researchers who, in spite of unjustified rejections persevere until publication, as opposed to the few abandonments, due to anger, disappointment, and loss of self-esteem. We conclude by considering rejection as a didactic instance, as long as there is timely and well-argued information from the editors of a journal; editorial management is improved through transparent, informed, and timely processes.