SAE Transactions

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What is Transactions?SAE Transactions is an annual, archival publication of all the best technical papers from the given year for which it is published.

Because Transactions is an archival publication, technical papers with excellent long-term reference value usually have the best chance to be selected for inclusion.

All technical papers approved for publication by SAE are considered for Transactions. On average, only 25 – 30% of all papers published in a given year by SAE are also selected for Transactions.

What is Transactions?

SAE Transactions annually consists of the following seven journals:

Journal of AerospaceJournal of Aerospace

Journal of Commercial VehiclesJournal of Commercial Vehicles

Journal of Materials & ManufacturingJournal of Materials & Manufacturing

Journal of Passenger Cars: Journal of Passenger Cars: Electrical & Electronic SystemsElectrical & Electronic Systems

Journal of EnginesJournal of Engines

Journal of Fuels & LubricantsJournal of Fuels & Lubricants

Journal of Passenger Cars: Journal of Passenger Cars: Mechanical SystemsMechanical Systems

SAE Paper Review SAE Paper Review ProcessProcess

Author submits Author submits abstract.abstract.

Organizer accepts Organizer accepts abstract.abstract.

Author submits Author submits review-ready review-ready manuscript.manuscript.

Organizer facilitates Organizer facilitates review of paper (at review of paper (at

least 3 peer least 3 peer reviews)reviews)

Reviewers score Reviewers score paper (using paper (using

Judgment BasesJudgment Bases) ) and make and make

recommendation for recommendation for or against or against

Transactions.Transactions.

Organizer approves Organizer approves paper for publication paper for publication

and makes and makes recommendationrecommendation for for

or against or against Transactions.Transactions.

Activity Chair, or Conference Chair, makes Transactions selections.

Please notice that it’s the Activity Chair, or Technical Program Chair, who actually makes Transactions

selections.

Session Organizer Session Organizer RoleRole

• Facilitate review – at least three qualified technical paper reviewers.

• If appropriate, approve technical paper for SAE publication.

• Make recommendation either for or against inclusion of paper in SAE Transactions.

Reviewer RoleReviewer Role• Read and score technical paper

(according to Judgment Bases).–Update scores/comments if/when author

revises technical paper

• Make recommendations either for or against inclusion of paper in SAE Transactions.

Judgment Bases / Review Judgment Bases / Review CriteriaCriteria

All technical papers considered for publication by SAE are graded on six criteria:

• Quality of Data

• Long-term Reference Value• Technically New & Innovative• Professional Integrity• Clear Presentation• Soundness of Conclusions

Is the paper technically sound?

Does the paper evaluate the strengths and limitations of the work described?

Are performance metrics clearly stated?

Are results clearly described?

Is relevant previous research discussed adequately?

Are all assumptions referenced by previous proven works?

Would this paper’s content still be relevant and likely to be cited in future works?

Are the results and interpretation of lasting scientific value?

Is the topic important to the field?

Does the paper strengthen or extend the state of the art?

Does the subject matter have an interested audience today?

Are ideas/information and methods worthwhile, new, or creative?

Is the author the source of new information?

Are analytical, numerical, or experimental results and interpretation original?

Is the impact of the results clearly stated?

Is the paper free from commercialism?

Is the paper free from personalities and bias?

Is the paper clear and balanced?

Is prior work of others adequately credited?

Does the author avoid disparaging competitive methods or products?

Are references to previous work presented constructively, in a fair and balanced manner?

Does the introductory section explain motivation and orient the reader?

Does the paper describe what was done, how it was done, and the key results?

Does the paper stay focused on its subject?

Are tables and figures clear, relevant and correct?

Are the concepts clearly presented?

Is the paper logically organized?

Are titles and keywords used appropriately?

Is the paper’s length appropriate to its scope?

Does the author demonstrate knowledge of basic composition skills, including word choice, sentence structure, paragraph development, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and citation of references?

Are the claims of the paper firmly established?

Are conclusions sound theoretically or experimentally?

Are conclusions supported by the facts presented?

Calculating Transactions Calculating Transactions ScoresScores

The final Transactions score is calculated as follows:

Each judgment basis is scored from 1 (low) – 10 (high)…

Long-term reference value Long-term reference value score:score:

Technically new/Innovative Technically new/Innovative score:score:

Professional Integrity Professional Integrity score:score:

Clear Presentation Clear Presentation score:score:

Judgment Basis Multiplier Scorex 4

x 3

x 2

x 1

=

=

=

=

TOTAL TOTAL (WEIGHTED)(WEIGHTED) TRANSACTIONS TRANSACTIONS SCORE:SCORE:(Out of 100 possible)

Calculating Transactions Calculating Transactions ScoresScores

The final Transactions score is calculated as follows:

Each judgment basis is scored from 1 (low) – 10 (high)…

Long-term reference value Long-term reference value score:score:

Technically new/Innovative Technically new/Innovative score:score:

Professional Integrity Professional Integrity score:score:

Clear Presentation Clear Presentation score:score:

Judgment Basis Multiplier Scorex 4

x 3

x 2

x 1

=

=

=

=

TOTAL TOTAL (WEIGHTED)(WEIGHTED) TRANSACTIONS TRANSACTIONS SCORE:SCORE:(Out of 100 possible)

8

9

6

7

32

27

12

7

7878

What’s a Good What’s a Good Score?Score?

• All papers with an average weighted Transactions score of at least 70 will be considered for Transactions.

• THERE IS NO TRANSACTIONS SCORE THAT WILL GUARANTEE JOURNAL INCLUSION.

– The Activity Chair, or Conference Chair, must still select the paper for Transactions if it is to be included.

NOTE:NOTE:Quality of Data

and Soundness of Conclusions

are not part of the calculated Transactions Score,

but are considered when reviewing a paper for SAE publication.

Activity Chair RoleActivity Chair Role• The Activity Chair (or Conference Chair, in the

aerospace sector) decides whether or not a paper is included in SAE Transactions.

• He/she considers the recommendations of both the reviewers and the session organizers.

• He/she may also review the technical paper personally to assist in making a decision.

• The Activity Chair/Conference Chair also may recommend one or more papers for the Arch T. Colwell award, which is an “elite” annual subset of Transactions-selected papers, based on very specific criteria.

Thanks for your Thanks for your time!time!

• If you have any questions If you have any questions about SAE’s technical about SAE’s technical paper review process, or paper review process, or about SAE about SAE TransactionsTransactions, , please contact please contact Bob Kornrumpf at SAE:Bob Kornrumpf at SAE:

Email: Email: robertk@sae.orgrobertk@sae.orgPh: 1.724.772.4030Ph: 1.724.772.4030