What are the criteria for each submission stage?
A submission passes through various stages as part of the editorial process. These are:
- Unassigned: has not yet had an editor/section editor assigned to it to start the review process
- Ready for peer review: has had an editor/section editor assigned to it, but the review process has not yet begun (i.e. peer reviewers have not been invited)
- Reviewers invited: the minimum number of peer reviewers (default is 2) have been invited to the review the submission, but have not yet accepted the task
- Reviews outstanding: the minimum number of reviewers have accepted the invitation to review the submission, but have not yet sent back their review feedback and completed the task
- Reviews complete: all reviewers have completed their task and submitted their peer review feedback but an editorial decision has not yet been made
- Awaiting revision: the editor has asked the author to make revisions to their submission and is currently waiting for the revised file to be submitted
- Revisions submitted: the author has submitted their revised file, but the editor has not yet made a subsequent editorial decision (resubmit for review, accept, reject etc)
If the editor chooses to send the submission back for further revisions or for a subsequent round of peer review then the above stages will be re-activated, as appropriate. If the submission is accepted, it will pass into the 'Editing' page, and if the submission is rejected is will pass to the 'Archives' page.