An analysis of selected criteria for the publication of journal articles

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze selected criteria for manuscripts and research articles for journals as perceived by professors of educational administration in University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) institutions. The population was defined as the current membership as listed on the UCEA 1979-1980 directory. The sample was taken directly from this membership list. Of the 105 in the sample, seventy-nine provided usable responses to the survey instrument developed and validated specifically for this research study. Descriptive data was analyzed through the use of frequency distributions. Analysis of variance was used to determine the statistical relationships in comparisons of groups divided by: academic rank (professor, associate professor, assistant professor); years in the educational administration professorship; and publication rates of high, medium, and low in refereed journals. The opinions of the respondents revealed that few significant differences existed among professors, associate professors, and assistant professors concerning the twenty-nine criteria for publication of journal articles. Only two of the criteria had significantly different means. Significantly different means were detected among the respondents who had varying years of experience in the educational administration professorship for two of the twenty-nine journal criteria. Significantly different means were found in the responses of respondents with high, medium, and low publication rates in refereed journals for two of the twenty-nine criteria. Twenty-one of the twenty-nine criteria were found to be important by the respondents as criteria for publication of journal articles. Eight of the responses were not important.