How to select Right Journal for Your Research Paper

Common Reasons for Journal Rejection and How to Avoid Them: By TrendForge

Common Reasons for Rejection of Publication Work in Journals and How to Avoid Them

(Common Reasons for Journal Rejection: A Complete Guide by TrendForge – JESTM)

Introduction

Every researcher dreams of seeing their hard work published in a reputed journal. However, even strong research papers often face rejection due to avoidable mistakes. Understanding the common reasons for journal rejection can save you valuable time, effort, and disappointment.

Journal rejection doesn’t always mean your research is weak — sometimes it’s about fit, formatting, or presentation. Each academic journal follows strict publication criteria related to scope, structure, ethics, and quality. Knowing these expectations in advance can help you refine your paper and improve your chances of acceptance.

At TrendForge – Journal of Engineering, Science, Technology and Management (JESTM), we aim to guide researchers in producing high-quality, ethical, and well-presented manuscripts that meet international publishing standards.

Mismatch Between Research and Journal Scope

One of the most common reasons for rejection is submitting your paper to a journal whose scope doesn’t match your research topic. Editors instantly reject manuscripts that fall outside their subject area.

How to Avoid:

Carefully read the Aims and Scope section of the journal’s website.
Review recent publications to see if your topic aligns with the journal’s focus.
Target journals that publish work in your discipline or interdisciplinary field.

Tip: At TrendForge JESTM, we welcome research across engineering, science, technology, and management — but submissions must clearly connect to these domains.

Understanding the Problem

One of the most common reasons for journal rejection is a mismatch between your research topic and the journal’s scope. Every academic journal clearly defines its aims and scope — outlining the subject areas, disciplines, and types of research it publishes. When a submitted paper falls outside this range, editors usually reject it at the initial screening stage, even before peer review.

This kind of rejection is not necessarily about the quality of your research — it’s about relevance. Journals receive hundreds of submissions, and their goal is to maintain thematic consistency for their readers. For example, if your paper on renewable energy systems is submitted to a journal focusing on computer algorithms, it will likely be declined, even if your work is excellent.

Why Scope Mismatch Happens

Authors often face this problem because they:

Submit manuscripts hastily without reviewing the journal’s scope in detail.
Assume that a broad-sounding journal title automatically covers their topic.
Try to target high-impact journals regardless of thematic fit.
Misunderstand interdisciplinary areas — for example, confusing management-oriented research with pure engineering journals.

These issues can lead to desk rejection, wasting valuable time that could have been spent targeting the right publication.

How to Identify a Journal’s Scope

Before submitting your manuscript, take the time to thoroughly analyze the journal’s aims and scope section — usually found on the journal’s homepage or “About” page. Look for:

The subject areas it covers (e.g., civil engineering, data science, management studies).
The types of articles accepted (research papers, case studies, reviews, technical notes, etc.).
The keywords and themes mentioned in recent issues.
The intended readership — academic, professional, or industrial audiences.

Example:
If your paper focuses on “AI-based optimization in manufacturing management,” it may not fit a pure computer science journal — but it would perfectly align with a multidisciplinary journal like TrendForge – JESTM, which welcomes research at the intersection of engineering, science, technology, and management.

How to Avoid Scope Mismatch

Here are practical steps to ensure your research aligns perfectly with the journal you target:

Read the Journal’s Aims & Scope Carefully
- Understand exactly what kind of work the journal wants.
- Compare your paper’s objectives and keywords with those mentioned.
Review Previously Published Papers
- Browse through 5–10 recent articles.
- Check if your topic and methodology resemble the published content.
Use Journal Finder Tools
- Many publishers (like Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley) offer journal finder tools.
- Enter your abstract and keywords to get a list of suitable journals.
Seek Guidance from Mentors or Peers
- Senior researchers or supervisors can recommend reputable journals in your area.
Avoid “One Size Fits All” Submissions
- Customize your manuscript for each journal.
- Adjust your abstract, keywords, and introduction to align with the journal’s focus.

Why Alignment Matters

Selecting a journal that fits your research scope offers multiple advantages:

Increases your chances of acceptance and reduces desk rejection.
Ensures your paper reaches the right academic audience.
Enhances your visibility and citation potential.
Builds your reputation as a researcher who publishes strategically.

Pro Tip from TrendForge JESTM

At TrendForge – Journal of Engineering, Science, Technology and Management (JESTM), we encourage authors to carefully review our Aims and Scope before submission. We welcome high-quality, original work across engineering, science, technology, and management, with a focus on innovation, interdisciplinary research, and societal impact.

Submitting work that clearly aligns with these areas significantly improves your likelihood of acceptance and accelerates the review process.

Weak Research Design or Methodology

Even an interesting topic can get rejected if the research design, data collection, or methodology is poorly executed or unclear. Journals value transparency, reproducibility, and strong analytical methods.

How to Avoid:

Use a well-defined and validated research methodology.
Clearly explain your experimental setup, data sources, and statistical analysis.
Ensure your results support your conclusions with credible evidence.

Understanding the Importance of Research Design

A strong research design and methodology form the backbone of any successful research paper. Even if your topic is innovative and relevant, a weak or unclear methodology can lead to rejection during the peer review process. Reviewers and editors need to see that your research was systematically planned, executed, and validated — not just conceptually interesting.

In academic publishing, methodology demonstrates how you reached your conclusions. It ensures that your work can be replicated, verified, and trusted by other researchers. A paper with a poor research design raises doubts about the reliability, validity, and accuracy of the results.

Common Signs of a Weak Research Design

Many research papers face rejection not because of the idea itself but because of flaws in the research design. Some frequent issues include:

Unclear Research Objectives – The purpose of the study is not clearly defined.
Improper Sampling or Data Collection – Small, biased, or unrepresentative samples.
Inadequate Methodology Explanation – Missing details about tools, instruments, or processes used.
Lack of Control Variables – No consideration of factors that could affect results.
Unsupported Hypotheses – Conclusions that don’t logically follow the data.
Statistical Errors – Misapplication of statistical tests or lack of significance analysis.
Incomplete Data Presentation – Missing figures, tables, or explanations for anomalies.

When reviewers encounter these issues, they lose confidence in the study’s validity, often leading to desk rejection or negative peer reviews.

How to Strengthen Your Research Design

To ensure your methodology meets publication standards, consider the following best practices:

a. Define Clear Research Objectives

Start with a specific, measurable, and achievable research question.
Ensure your objectives directly connect to your methodology and analysis.

b. Choose the Right Research Approach

Decide whether your study is quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods.
Justify your choice — explain why the selected method fits your research problem.

c. Use Proper Sampling Techniques

Select an appropriate sample size that represents your population.
Describe your sampling method (random, stratified, purposive, etc.) clearly.

d. Detail Your Data Collection Process

Mention all instruments, surveys, experiments, or simulation tools used.
Provide timelines, conditions, and any limitations encountered.

e. Apply Suitable Data Analysis Methods

Use established statistical or analytical tools to interpret your results.
Clearly explain the techniques used (e.g., regression, ANOVA, simulation modeling).
Include tables and figures to present your data visually and logically.

f. Ensure Validity and Reliability

Validate your instruments or models through pilot testing.
Explain how you minimized biases or controlled external factors.

g. Be Transparent About Limitations

Every study has boundaries — acknowledging them adds credibility.
Briefly discuss what could be improved or explored in future research.

Example: Poor vs. Strong Methodology

Poor Example:

“Data were collected from a few respondents and analyzed using basic statistics.”

Strong Example:

“A structured questionnaire was administered to 250 respondents using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS software with multiple regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between variables.”

The difference lies in clarity, precision, and reproducibility — exactly what journal reviewers look for.

Why It Matters for Publication Success

A well-designed methodology:

Demonstrates academic rigor and professionalism.
Increases your paper’s credibility and replicability.
Reduces the chances of rejection on technical or validity grounds.
Strengthens your position for citations and future research collaborations.

High-quality journals like TrendForge JESTM prioritize manuscripts that showcase methodological soundness, scientific precision, and reliable data interpretation.

Pro Tip from TrendForge JESTM

Before submitting, ask yourself:

“Can another researcher reproduce my study based on what I’ve written?”

If the answer is yes, your methodology section is likely clear and strong. At TrendForge – Journal of Engineering, Science, Technology and Management (JESTM), we recommend authors provide comprehensive methodological details, including research design, data sources, analytical tools, and validation techniques, to ensure transparency and trust in scholarly publishing.

3. Lack of Novelty or Original Contribution

Editors and reviewers look for new insights that advance existing knowledge. Papers that simply repeat known results or lack originality are likely to be declined.

How to Avoid:

Highlight what’s unique about your work — a new model, technique, or perspective.
Compare your findings with existing studies to show what you add.
Emphasize the scientific or practical impact of your research.

Poor Structure and Presentation

A strong idea can still fail if the manuscript is unclear, disorganized, or poorly written. Editors expect professional writing that follows journal guidelines.

How to Avoid:

Follow the journal’s author guidelines for format, style, and length.
Write clear, concise, and grammatically correct content.
Use headings, figures, and tables effectively for better readability.
Consider a language editing service if English is not your first language.

Incomplete or Incorrect Citations

Improper referencing or missing citations weaken the credibility of your work and may raise concerns about plagiarism or academic ethics.

How to Avoid:

Use a consistent referencing style (APA, IEEE, etc.) as per the journal’s instructions.
Cite recent and relevant research to strengthen your background.
Always acknowledge sources properly to maintain integrity.

Ethical Concerns or Plagiarism

Journals take ethical misconduct seriously. High similarity index, duplicate submission, data fabrication, or copyright violation can lead to immediate rejection — and even blacklisting.

How to Avoid:

Run your paper through a plagiarism checker before submission.
Ensure all data and results are original and properly attributed.
Disclose conflicts of interest and obtain necessary permissions.

Poor Abstract and Title

The title and abstract are the first things reviewers read. If they fail to capture your research’s purpose, originality, or relevance, your paper may not progress to full review.

How to Avoid:

Write a clear, informative, and keyword-rich title.
Ensure the abstract summarizes your objectives, methods, findings, and significance in 150–250 words.
Avoid vague or overly technical language.

Ignoring Reviewer Feedback

Sometimes papers are rejected after revision because authors fail to address reviewer comments thoroughly. Reviewers’ feedback is an opportunity, not a criticism.

How to Avoid:

Respond to every comment respectfully and in detail.
Revise the manuscript carefully and highlight changes.
If you disagree, explain your reasoning with evidence or references.

Low-Quality Figures and Tables

Visual elements play a crucial role in presenting data. Blurry images, inconsistent formatting, or unclear graphs reduce the paper’s professional appeal.

How to Avoid:

Use high-resolution figures (300 dpi or higher).
Label all tables and charts clearly with proper units and captions.
Ensure consistency in formatting and style.

Ignoring Journal Formatting and Submission Guidelines

Every journal has its own template, structure, and submission process. Non-compliance often leads to automatic rejection before review.

How to Avoid:

Always download and use the latest journal template.
Double-check the word count, font style, citation format, and file type.
Follow the submission checklist carefully.

Conclusion

Rejection is part of every researcher’s journey, but understanding the common reasons for rejection can help you transform a failed submission into a successful one. A strong, ethical, well-structured paper that aligns with the journal’s scope has a far better chance of acceptance.

At TrendForge – Journal of Engineering, Science, Technology and Management (JESTM), we encourage authors to submit work that reflects originality, clarity, and integrity. Our editorial team follows a transparent peer-review process and supports researchers in achieving international publication success.

Remember, every rejection is a step closer to improvement — and every well-prepared submission brings you closer to publication.

Written by:
Dr Rajendra Singh Kushwah
M. Tech, Ph. D
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