For novice researchers completing a research project is a massive challenge. Sometimes they lack the confidence to write for peer review at the time of completion of the study, but at a later stage are more ready. The question is, how long after the study is completed is too long to write up for peer review.
Hi David,
I have personal rule of thumb. When reviewing submitted clinical manuscripts, if the collected data is any older than say 3-years - I always question it. It may be that there is a valid reason i.e. they wanted follow-up data to confirm etc - and the author/s can 'state their case'. If the data was say more than 5-years old - I cannot think of any valid reason how that could be justified. If it's a longitudinal study - then the original data may appear dated - but the latest data is not and validates the earlier data; thus bringing it up-to-date.
another argument could be that novice researchers should really either be working within an established team or with an experienced supervisor/s. They should compensate for the lack in confidence and facilitate timely submission of findings.
Hi David,
I have personal rule of thumb. When reviewing submitted clinical manuscripts, if the collected data is any older than say 3-years - I always question it. It may be that there is a valid reason i.e. they wanted follow-up data to confirm etc - and the author/s can 'state their case'. If the data was say more than 5-years old - I cannot think of any valid reason how that could be justified. If it's a longitudinal study - then the original data may appear dated - but the latest data is not and validates the earlier data; thus bringing it up-to-date.
another argument could be that novice researchers should really either be working within an established team or with an experienced supervisor/s. They should compensate for the lack in confidence and facilitate timely submission of findings.
Thank you Kamal and Dean
You both raise great points. In the program I coordinate the novice researchers have a mentor for the duration of their project, which is two years. Sometimes the researchers are looking to come back to write for peer review after a break of 1-2 years and haven't kept in touch with their mentor.
I try to encourage them to make contact again- it's pretty rare that a mentor wouldn't want to co-author but there's often a mix of reluctance and embarrassment for not writing sooner.
I think that encouragement to write, state your case and let the journal reviewers decide is the way to go.
You're always on time, while there are no other researcher to publish similar results to those forgotten in the desk drawer
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