======= Date Modified 09 03 2010 10:03:18 =======
I've had a rejection from a journal - it didn't go to reviewers, just the editor rejected it. I'm not surprised, its a HUGE journal and I knew there were some limitations for my paper, I mainly sent it in to get some comments on it.

But the comments are really vague, he's said one thing about it, which isn't clear
I'm so tempted to email him (He's a BIG name in the field - US based) to clarify it.

But would you, or is it not the 'done' thing?

I personally have no idea, so I'd ask my supervisor whether they thought I should or not.

I haven't told my sup yet, I would really like to clarify it first, as if its my stats, then I'd like to think about how to change them first before telling my sup

This happened to me - the editor sent it back w/o review saying it was not a fit for their journal.

Sup was furious (is also on editorial board of said journal) and wondered if the editor should be emailed but then said "nothing good ever comes out of these things, so send it somewhere else, for the paper is really good".

I've thought about it over last night and this morning, and in the shower suddenly decided that he's talking about my sample size (which he mentions in the sentence before) - it is very vague though, not be being stupid. I can't exactly go back and collect more people (it was a major problem to begin with, which I have highlighted throughout the study, as the participant group is very small anyway)

So will not email him.

I will however, keep his email for my method section - there is already a few papers talking about how difficult it is to publish in my research area because of participant numbers :-)