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Basic Technical

Desk Rejection Rate Analysis

noun

Pronunciation: /dɛsk rɪˈdʒɛkʃən reɪt əˈnæləsɪs/

The statistical evaluation of the proportion of submitted manuscripts rejected at the initial editorial screening stage without peer review, often tracked by topic area and journal section. This metric helps editors identify submission quality trends, refine screening criteria, and optimize resource allocation in the review process.

Plain English

Analysis of how many papers are rejected by editors before peer review, tracked as percentages and trends.

Etymology & History

Origin languageEnglish, Latin
Rootdesk from Old Norse 'diskr' (table); rejection from Latin 'reicere' (throw back); analysis from Greek 'analysis' (breaking up)
First recorded use1990s
Usage frequencyUncommon

Usage

"The desk rejection rate analysis revealed that 65% of submissions lacked proper statistical documentation."

Style guide notes: Write as 'desk rejection rate' (lowercase) unless beginning sentence.

Also known as

rejection metrics screening statistics triage analysis

Contrasted with

acceptance rate analysis publication metrics

Related Terms

Frequently Asked Questions

Why track desk rejection rates?

Rates identify common submission problems, guide author guidance, and measure editorial process efficiency.

What constitutes a high desk rejection rate?

Rates above 50% suggest submission quality issues; rates below 20% may indicate insufficient screening rigor.

Why Test Candidates on This?

Relevant for editorial decision-making, journal management, and understanding publication system performance.

Required skill level: Mid

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