Social Science and Medicine

[bad experience]

Three months to get a editorial rejection...blah!

I know other colleagues have had better experiences, but I'm really frustrated. It's starting to look like I will need to go back on the job market next year. I don't have three months to piss away.

[SSM]

Sorry to hear about that long wait time!

I had a different experience with Social Science & Medicine. I submitted an article in 2011 and received a timely (~2 weeks) editorial rejection, with a suggestion to revise and resubmit as a 'Short Report.' I resubmitted in that shortened version, and received three helpful reviews within 4 months and had a quick second revision leading to acceptance. Overall it was a positive journal experience for me.

[FYI]

I've published several papers in SSM and have done dozens of reviews for them.

SSM has a multi-tiered editorial process.
You submit your paper to one of the specialty area editors who arranges reviews etc. If the paper has potential it will be recommended for publication to the editor in chief who will make the final decision.

Because of this you will likely go through at least two rounds of revisions before it is recommended for acceptance as the deputy editors try to get the papers looking as good as they can before putting them forward.

This can be a long and sometimes frustrating process. On the upside this a very good interdisciplinary and international journal that has very high visibility and good citation metrics.

[average review time?]

Anyone know their average review time?

I've had an article under review there for 4 months and I am getting a little impatient.

[LMGTFY]

Not sure about averages, but their policy is an 80 day timeline. That has conformed with my experience as well.

www.journals.elsevier.com/social-science-and-medicine/policies/peer-review-policy-and-publication-times/