# Journal submission and reviewer-response checklist

Decision workbook and teaching example · 2026-10-06

The completed case is fictional. Its values and decisions are not actual findings; complete your project using relevant permissions, methods and requirements.

- Project: ____________________
- Researcher and role: ____________________
- Date and version: ____________________
- Data seen before the decision: ____________________
- Aim and scope: ____________________

## Completed example

| Stage/decision | Example | Check or action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fit | Article type and audience | Is it actually within scope? |
| Credibility | Publisher and official index | Are claims independently checked? |
| Terms | Fees, licence and preprints | Are current conditions clear? |
| Submission | Author approval and submission status | Are statements accurate? |
| Response | Comment, action, location and version | Is the change actually present? |

## Complete your own record

| Topic | Actual decision and reason | Evidence link and status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fit | __________ | __________ |
| Credibility | __________ | __________ |
| Terms | __________ | __________ |
| Submission | __________ | __________ |
| Response | __________ | __________ |

## Completion checks

- [ ] Prepare an outlet comparison, submission record and response matrix.

## Changes and limitations

| Date | Change | Data known at decision time | Reason | Consequence for claim | Reviewer |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ |

## Sources and further reading

- [Think. Check. Submit. — Journal checklist](https://thinkchecksubmit.org/journals/)
- [EQUATOR Network — Reporting guidelines](https://www.equator-network.org/)
- [ICMJE — Roles of authors and contributors](https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html)

Related guide: https://didgar-research-site1.vercel.app/en/guides/journal-submission/