Table 2.
Status categories for papers.
| Category | Meaning | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| No data, not started | Decision made to progress paper. May be next-in-line paper for lead author, or may be a key paper (e.g., trial report) for writing later in the study | Finalise provisional title, confirm exact author list and target journal. Think about content |
| Awaiting editorial response | Editor of a specific journal has been contacted to ask if the paper would be of interest | Amend target journal if necessary |
| Data being collected | Paper has started | Write Methods section and blank Results section, e.g., prepare un-populated tables |
| Data collected, analysis not started | Data collection complete | Clean data, prepare database and data dictionary |
| Analysis underway | Data currently being analysed | Present emerging findings in publications meeting for team support with interpretation |
| Analysis complete | Data analysis finished | Populate Results section |
| 1st draft underway | Full draft being written or co-ordinated by lead author | Write Introduction and Discussion, then Abstract. Add all journal-specific sections (e.g., author contributions) and follow author guidelines 100% |
| 1st draft circulated locally | Full draft goes to internal team (groups 1 to 3 in Table 3) for comments, with e.g., 2 week deadline. Lead author revises. | Address all comments. Ensure all funder-required information is correct, e.g., Acknowledgements |
| Draft to all co-authors | Full draft goes to all authors including internal team again, with e.g., 3 week deadline. | Co-authors comment on full draft |
| Final draft underway | Lead author revises in light of all comments. Polish text. Work with specific co-author on individual section if needed. Write cover letter. | Create polished final version |
| Submission pending | Activate journal login and collate all materials needed for submission, e.g., recommended reviewers | Final look-over of full submission by study lead |
| Submitted | Lead author submits and confirms receipt | Submitted version sent to all co-authors |
| Revision requested | Journal requests revisions | Lead author informs internal team (but does not bother other authors), and co-ordinates revision |
| Revised version submitted | Lead author submits revision and confirms receipt | Lead author emails internal team with revised version to confirm re-submission |
| Re-drafting for next submission | Paper has been rejected | Lead author identifies new target journal, and re-drafts paper using process in Table 4 |
| Accepted | Paper is accepted | Lead author emails all authors with Word and PDF versions of Author Final Draft, and confirms complete reference |
| Appealed | A rejection is being appealed | Lead author asks editor to re-consider their decision. Very rarely used |