The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) was inaugurated in May 1996 in the presence of then President Nelson Mandela, patron of the launch of the. First, the journals are reviewed in the department to comply with the requirements of the policy.
1 PERIODIC PEER REVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOLARLY JOURNALS: APPROVED PROCESS
- Background
- ASSAf peer review panels
- Initial criteria
- Editorial-related criteria (generally based on the Code of Best Practice in Editorial Discretion and Peer Review developed by ASSAf)
- Business-related criteria
- Bibliometric assessments
- Process guidelines
- Selecting panel members
- Setting up and organising the panels
- Peer reviews
- Panel reports
Issues to be considered in the design of the ASSAf PRP and in the conduct of quality assessment review activities include: selection of panel members; organizing panel activities; The preparation of a consensus review from individual reviews is of key importance and is supervised by the chairman of the commission and the director of the SPU.
2 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL AND
While the narrower field of 'Agriculture and allied basic life sciences' covered by this report was subsumed into a larger 'Natural Sciences' group, there is no reason to doubt the applicability of the results of the larger group to the specific group of interest. to us here. The vast majority of 'Natural Sciences' articles were published in journals indexed in the Thomson Reuters: Web of Science (Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index and Science Citation Index Expanded), hereafter referred to as WoS, with 85% of the articles published in WoS-indexed journals and 15 per cent
3 PANEL MEMBERS
Impact factors (the average number of current year citations in all indexed journals for articles published in the previous two years) for local 'Agriculture and related Basic Life Sciences' journals in the Journal Impact Factor varied between 0.5 and 2.1 with the majority between 0 .9 and 2.1. Two journals in the group covered by this report had ratings above 0.5 (Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 0.56, and African Zoology, 0.56). and 0.5.
4 CONSENSUS REVIEWS OF JOURNALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL AND RELATED BASIC
Koedoe Journal: African Protected Area Conservation and Science
- The journal should continue to be listed on the DHET list of accredited journals
- The journal should continue to be listed on the evolving SciELO-South Africa platform
- The editor and publisher should be encouraged to use the outcome of the present review in making application for indexing by WoS
- The editor should seriously consider the above recommendations for improve- ment of the journal made by the reviewers
The editor should seriously consider the above recommendations for improvement of the journal made by the reviewers. In addition, the Panel believes that the journal should retain its name Kudoe, which is well known in the field.
South African Journal of Wildlife Research
- The journal should continue to be listed on the DHET list of accredited journals (over and above its entitlement to this, under policy as a WoS-indexed periodi-
- The editor and publisher should be invited to consider joining the evolving SciELO-South Africa platform
- The editor should seriously consider the above recommendations for improve- ment of the journal made by the reviewers
- In addition, the Panel believes that the journal’s impact factor is good, especially compared to other South African journals
The journal should remain listed on the DHET list of accredited journals (in addition to the right to do so, under policy as a WoS-indexed period) (in addition to the right to do so, under policy as a WoS-indexed period) In addition, the panel is of the opinion that the impact factor of the journal is good, especially compared to other South African journals.
African Natural History
- In addition, the Panel believes that published articles should be derived from a wider spectrum, the editor should be discouraged from publishing in the jour-
The editor and publisher should be invited to consider joining the emerging SciELO-South Africa platform. Consensus review: The number of articles and the proportion of international contributors should be increased.
South African Journal of Animal Science
- In addition, the Panel believes that the editor should check the ASSAf National Code of Best Practice to align the editorial guidelines with them; the editor
The standard is equivalent to some international animal science journals, but not comparable to top journals such as Journal of Agricultural Science, Animal, British Poultry Science or British Journal of Nutrition. Consensus review: The journal should expand its coverage to include African researchers in other African countries.
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research
- The editor and publishers should be invited to consider joining the evolving SciELO-South Africa platform
- The journal should include enrichment features such as editorials, book reviews, topical reviews
- In addition, the Panel believes that the editor should consider aligning the ditorial guidelines with the ASSAf National Code of Best Practice
Furthermore, the Panel believes that the editor should check the ASSAf National Code of Best Practice to align editorial guidelines with them; Editor's Code of Best Practices to harmonize editorial guidelines with them; the editor should consider improving the journal by adding enrichment features; and the editor should encourage authors to co-author articles with graduate students. Essential technical features: English abstracts, errors, citation practice, presentation Consensus review: The journal contains adequate abstracts in English. Consensus review: The journal is suitable as an ongoing general stimulus for local graduate students and young researchers in the discipline.
Copyright permissions are freely given to those who accept the condition that the journal be acknowledged.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
In addition, the committee believes that the editor should consider aligning the editorial guidelines with the ASSAf National Code of Best Practice. The journal appears to be of more interest to veterinarians than the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, as the articles generally reflect less academic topics and more of scientific interest, such as editorial comments and book reviews.
Bothalia
Consensus review: The articles are generally of high quality and the journal can be compared with similar international journals. The journal's focus is mainly on local issues, with some articles from other African countries. In addition, the panel believes that the journal should publish articles on an open access platform.
The panel also recommends, in the interests of the botany discipline, that the journal should consider changing its scope or merging with the South African Journal of Botany.
South African Journal of Botany
- The editor and publisher should be invited to consider joining the evolving SciELO-South Africa platform, despite present reservations
- In addition, the Panel believes that the journal should broaden its scope to include other disciplinary areas within botany, as well as broadening its content
The general circulation of the journal is 400 copies per number; the number of paying subscribers is 60. In general, the focus of the journal is on the south/southern African flora (species), as well as those from further afield in Africa. Essential technical features: English abstracts, errata, citation practices, presentation Consensus review: The quality of the writing is good and the journal contains English abstracts. Errataare published.
The scope of the journal is very broad and even general journals, such as the American Journal of Botany, are more limited in scope.
Flowering Plants of Africa
- The journal should be accredited as a book under the DHET subsidy system
- The editor and publisher should be invited to consider joining the evolving SciELO-South Africa platform, but as a book publication (see point 4 below)
The number of articles published is satisfactory, but the journal publishes only one issue every two years. Consensus review: The journal is comparable to Kew's Curtis Botanical Journal as well as coffee table books dealing with taxonomic monographs or reviews. In addition, the Panel noted that the journal is published once every two years and is a valuable scientific publication.
In addition, the panel believes that the magazine should seek sponsorship from art dealers to support it as an annual scientific book.
African Journal of Range and Forage Science
- The editor should seriously consider the following recommendations for improve- ment of the journal made by the reviewers
- In addition, the Panel believes that the journal should expand the number of peer reviewers, outside the range of the editorial board
The journal covers a rather focused field, but nevertheless publishes a consistent number of articles per year. Invitations to targeted overseas researchers can increase visibility and citation of journal articles. Sourcing book reviews and review articles, especially from well-known scholars, to add value to the journal.
In addition, the Panel believes that the journal should expand the number of reviewers, beyond the scope of the editorial board.
Agrekon
- The journal should continue to be listed on the DHET list of accredited journals (over and above its entitlement to this, under policy as a WoS- and IBSS-indexed
- In addition, the Panel believes that the advantages of having the journal included in the ASSAf-administered SciELO-South Africa platform need to be
A large proportion (about 80%) of contextually good articles are published in the journal each year between 2006 and 2008. The authors of the published articles in the journal are from higher education institutions, evenly spread across South Africa. The benefits of the journal's inclusion in ASSAf's SciELO-South Africa should be properly explained to the editors so that they can make an informed decision on whether to participate.
The journal must continue to be listed on the DHET list of accredited journals (in addition to its right to this, under policy as a WoS- and IBSS-indexed (in addition to its right to this, under policy as a WoS- and IBSS) -indexed journal).
South African Journal of Agricultural Extension
- The editor should seriously consider the following recommendations for improve- ment of the journal made by the reviewers
The proportion of articles with non-South African addresses must be increased from the current 27% to improve the international standing of the magazine. This proportion must be reduced and that of non-South African addresses must also be increased to improve the international standing of the magazine. The proportion of articles with non-South African addresses must be increased from the current 27% to improve the international standing of the magazine.
This needs to be reduced and titles outside of South Africa increased to improve the magazine's international profile.
South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture
Expanding such features would make a positive contribution to the image and relevance of the journal. The journal's editorial policy guidelines must comply with the ASSAf National Code of Best Practice. Encourage postgraduate students and other young and future researchers to publish in the journal.
Consider aligning the journal's editorial policies with the ASSAf National Code of Best Practice.
African Zoology
The journal has a regional focus and a good sampling of local/regional types of material/problems is published, as well as a good sampling of the best work done locally. More editorials or reviews of the latest research in zoology would make the journal more useful and exciting for readers. This kind of information would change the overall impression of the magazine and make it more attractive to readers.
More than 70% of the Company's subscription revenue goes to the journal's production, and making the journal's content freely available would potentially erode the subscription base and thus seriously threaten the financial viability of the journal and the Company.
African Journal of Herpetology
- The journal should continue to be listed on the DHET list’of accredited journals (over and above its entitlement to this, under policy as a WoS-indexed periodi-
- The editor and publisher should be invited to consider joining the evolving Sci- ELO-South Africa platform
- In addition, the Panel requests the ASSAf Secretariat to obtain a questionnaire from the editor in order to enable the Panel to establish if the journal’s editorial
Questionnaire summary: The journal has been published for 58 years, with no significant interruption. The magazine appears twice a year, with a variable number of full-length articles (usually around 15) published each year. The journal is the primary source of publications on African herpetology, and is clearly recognized as an appropriate, WoS-indexed journal.
There was a high number of book reviews in the 3-year review period – ten – all written by the same person; the journal stopped publishing book reviews in 2009.
African Entomology
- In addition, the Panel believes that the journal should enhance its enrichment features
For example, the journal implements a double-blind review system to minimize unintended or other biases in the review process. Consensus Review: One of the most important features of the journal is that it is an excellent place for graduate students to publish. This type of input would also change the overall impression of the journal and make it more attractive to readers.
Copyright rests with the journal, which provides immediate access to authors should they need their own material.
African Invertebrates
- The Panel also commended the journal for its scope and focus
- In addition, the Panel believes that the scope of soil plant research published should be broadened to include natural systems; more substantive articles
The editor should seriously consider the above recommendations for improving the journal made by the reviewers. assessment of the journal made by the reviewers. Essential technical features: English abstracts, errata, citation practice, presentation Consensus assessment: The quality of the writing is good and the journal contains English abstracts. The four supporting societies (SAWSS, South African Society of Crop Production, Soil Science Society of South Africa, Southern African Society for Horticultural Sciences) each contribute to the running costs of the journal.
The journal changed the cover design (from two-color to full-color) at the beginning of volume 25 (2008).
Southern Forests: A Journal of Forest Science
- In addition, the Panel believes that the journal should increase its publication to four issues per year
The publication frequency of the magazine is three times a year, with a special issue every other year. Readers are regularly invited to submit comments on articles and their letters are published in the journal. Many foresters in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Zambia regularly use information published in the journal.
In addition, the committee believes that the journal should publish four issues per year.
QUESTIONNAIRE SENT TO THE EDITORS OF THE JOURNALS BEING PEER REVIEWED
What percentage of the three types of papers you published had at least one author with a non-South African address? How many peer reviewers were used in total, in one of the last three years. What percentage of pages in each issue represent original peer-reviewed material.
Have Web of Science journal type impact factors (eg Google Scholar or Scopus) ever been determined for your journal.
APPENDIX B
REQUESTS TO INDEPENDENT PEER REVIEWERS
4. The editor should seriously consider the recommendations for improvement of the journal made by the reviewers above. 3. The editor should seriously consider the recommendations for improvement of the journal made by the reviewers. 3. The editor should seriously consider the recommendations for improvement of the journal made by the reviewers above.
3. The editor should seriously consider the reviewers' recommendations for improving the journal.
