Communication Vagueness in the Literature Review Section of Journal Article Submissions

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Abstract

Evidence has been provided about the importance of avoiding American Psychological Association (APA) errors in the abstract, body, reference list, and table sections of empirical research articles. Specifically, authors are significantly more likely to have their manuscripts rejected for publication if they fail to avoid APA violations—and, thus, do not write with discipline—in these sections. In addition to adhering to APA, writing with discipline also includes avoiding communication vagueness. Thus, I analyzed communication vagueness in the literature review section of 71 manuscripts submitted to the journal Research in the Schools over a 2-year period. Findings revealed the most common communication vagueness categories, and the categories that best predicted whether or not a manuscript was rejected by the editor.

Author

• Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie, Sam Houston State University