OTJR: 2018 Milestones and Progress Towards Preeminence

Abstract

ence. To expound upon the former, we discuss the current performance metrics, special issue feature and conference presentations-and compare each of these 2018 metrics to the 2017 metrics (Classen, 2018). OTJR's performance metrics continue to improve each year. Updated from last year's editorial (Classen, 2018), Table 1 illustrates journal performance metrics, per year, for each year since 2015, when our current editorial team started managing the journal. Of particular interest is the performance of the journal in the first 11 months of 2018 (January 1 to November 20, 2018). The five-year and annual impact factors highlight the continual increase of OTJR's effect on the field of rehabilitation (Clarivate Analytics, 2018). Specifically, OTJR's 2017 five-year impact factor has increased to 1.23, and the one-year impact factor has increased to 1.00. Both five-year and the annual impact factors reflect the increase in the total number of citable submissions per year by scholars in rehabilitation science, occupational therapy science and occupational science. For the first 11 months of 2018, OTJR received 153 original article submissions, which indicates an increase per month (15.3 per month) when compared to the total number of manuscripts received per month for the previous years (e.g., 14.1 in 2017). With the increased total number of submissions per year, and comparing 2018 to 2017, the average time from submission to first decision (on the status of the manuscript) was 44.4 in 2018, vs. 44.5 in 2017; and for average time for reviewer turnaround was 21.0 days in 2018 compared to 21.1 days in 2017. Therefore, although the average number of submissions increased per month we have kept the decision-making time on average a bit shorter than the previous two years. Likewise, the acceptance ratio has also decreased for 2018 to 29.2 vs 29.6 in 2017, suggesting that the exactitude of reviews are increasing and in doing so, enhancing the scientific rigor of the journal.

2020 In Review: Challenges, Growth, & Future Opportunities

“…Table 1 summarizes the journal performance metrics from 2014 to 2020, building on the metrics summarized in 2018 to 2020 (Classen, 2018; Classen & Krasniuk, 2019, 2020). In reviewing these performance metrics, it is clear that OTJR continues on an upward trajectory in all areas of the journal’s metrics, supporting its continued success.…”

What’s Next? OTJR in 2022 and Beyond

“…Each January we report key journal performance metrics to track the performance of OTJR in key areas, including, the 1-year and 5-year impact factor, journal ranking, number of submissions, average time from submission to first decision, average reviewer turnaround time, and acceptance ratio. Metrics from 2015 to 2021 are reported in Table 1 (Classen, 2018;Classen et al, 2021;Classen & Krasniuk, 2019, 2020, with finalized numbers for January 1-December 31, 2020, presented. Metrics presented for 2021 are based on statistics from January 1 to November 1, 2021.…”

OTJR’s Occupational Science Section: An Incubator and Accelerator for Collaboration and Convergence Around Occupation

“…In 2015, the OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health (OTJR) editorial team began to transform the Journal into an “incubator” and “accelerator” (Classen, 2015a, p. 72) for ideas about occupation, participation, and health (Classen, 2015b). As part of OTJR’s continued “progress toward preeminence” (Classen & Krasniuk, 2019) and American Occupational Therapy Foundation’s (n.d.) strategic objective to “facilitate effective dissemination and translation of research-based knowledge . .…”

“…,” the Journal is pleased to announce the launch of a new Occupational Science Section that will focus on the myriad ways occupational science knowledge informs and is furthered by empirical research. We envision that this Occupational Science Section will incubate and accelerate approaches to translating occupational science knowledge and promote “collaboration and convergence” (Classen & Krasniuk, 2019) among people engaged in that work. Papers submitted to the Occupational Science Section will specifically highlight how understandings about occupation and/or humans as occupational beings influenced the development, implementation, or analysis of empirical or intervention research.…”