About the Journal

Focus and Scope

The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (IRRODL) is a peer-reviewed, open-access e-journal dedicated to advancing original research, theoretical insights, and best practices in open and distributed learning worldwide. IRRODL is freely accessible to anyone with an Internet connection and charges no fees for article submissions or access, ensuring inclusivity and global reach.

The journal serves both researchers and practitioners in open and distance education, aiming to enhance the quality of research while fostering its practical application. IRRODL focuses on translating research findings into policies and initiatives that expand educational opportunities for students and educators alike.

Important Submission Policy:
Since 2020, IRRODL no longer accepts articles solely describing teaching interventions or surveys on pedagogical approaches unless they include evidence of student achievement, performance, or retention. For more information, please review our policy on evidence of achievement.


Peer Review Process

All submissions to the Research Articles section of IRRODL undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. This ensures that neither authors nor reviewers are aware of each other’s identities, maintaining objectivity and fairness.

Before articles are sent for review, the Journal Editors screen them for relevance, quality, and meaningful contributions to the field of open and distributed learning. Suitable submissions are then assigned to at least two qualified peer reviewers. Based on reviewers’ evaluations and comments, the Journal Editors decide whether to accept, revise, or reject an article. While qualitative and quantitative studies are preferred, high-quality theoretical articles are also considered.

Submission and Publication Timeline

  • Feedback: Authors typically receive reviewer feedback and the Journal Editor’s decision within three months, depending on the availability of qualified reviewers.
  • Publication: Accepted articles are usually published in the next available issue. IRRODL publishes issues quarterly, approximately every three months.

Reviewer Evaluation Criteria

Peer reviewers evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:

  1. Clarity and Organization: Is the presentation complete, coherent, and well-structured?
  2. Significance of the Problem: Is the problem clearly defined and its importance explained?
  3. Relevance to the Field: Does the study extend beyond a single case and contribute to open and distributed learning?
  4. Original Contribution: Does the article provide novel insights or advancements?
  5. Theoretical Framework: If applicable, is the problem compellingly presented within a theoretical context?
  6. Literature Integration: Does the study establish a clear connection to ODL and other relevant literature?
  7. Research Design: Is the methodology appropriate and well-executed?
  8. Interpretation: Are the findings accurately interpreted and meaningfully discussed?
  9. Argument and Analysis: Is the reasoning sound and the analysis thorough?
  10. Implications: Are the conclusions insightful for theory, research, and/or practice in distance education?

Reviewers rate each criterion as excellent, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or not applicable and provide constructive comments to guide authors in improving their work.

For detailed submission guidelines, please consult the Submissions page.

Publication Frequency

IRRODL follows a quarterly publication cycle, releasing issues approximately every three months. The journal publishes a maximum of 40 Research Articles annually, averaging 10 articles per issue. Additional content, such as notes and other sections, may be published beyond the 40 Research Articles.

Open Access Policy

The copyright for all IRRODL articles remains with the author(s). As a condition of publication, authors agree to release their work under the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 (CC-BY) License.

This licence permits anyone to reproduce share, print, or distribute IRRODL articles at no cost, without requiring additional permission, as long as proper attribution is provided to the author(s) and the journal.

Example Attribution Language:
This article by {insert author(s) name(s)} has been reproduced from IRRODL under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC-BY). It is available here: {insert link}.

We encourage users to notify us when reproducing IRRODL articles. Please contact us at irrodlmanager@athabascau.ca to let us know how the article is being used.

Archiving

CLOCKSS system has permission to ingest, preserve, and serve IRRODL content, ensuring long-term digital archiving and accessibility.

Citation Indices

IRRODL is indexed by all major citation indexing systems, enhancing its visibility and impact in the academic community.

  • Metrics:
Rank Journal Title Quartile
1 International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Q1
2 JMIR Medical Education  Q1
3 Teaching and Learning Inquiry Q2
4 Canadian Journal of Higher Education Q3
5 Journal of Learning for Development Q3

Q & A

A Q & A on Responsible Scholarly Publishing

Inspired by a paper by Lily (2016) to respond to the concerns that he raises about scholarly journal publishers and Editors, the following Q & A has been created.

Lily, A. (2016). Academic journals through the lens of socialism: A narrative from the disciplines of education and technology. Publishing Research Quarterly, 32(2), 113-124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12109-016-9451-x
 

Questions and Answers

How are IRRODL Editors selected?

IRRODL is published by AU Press and owned by Athabasca University (AU), which is legally responsible for the journal. As such, the Editor-in-Chief is appointed by AU. Currently, there is one Editor-in-Chief and four Associate Editors, all of whom serve in volunteer, unpaid positions. Additionally, the IRRODL Managing Editor is a paid employee of AU.

How is the IRRODL Advisory Board selected?

The IRRODL Advisory Board is selected by the Editors based on the prestige and credibility of its members. The Board includes both Canadian and international members, with representatives from 12 countries, including three from the global south. As an international journal, the Board is designed to reflect diverse global perspectives. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) requires the inclusion of Canadian researchers as a condition of its grant to IRRODL. UNESCO, which also funds IRRODL, mandates that the Board include UNESCO Chairs in Open Educational Resources.

What is the policy of the journal regarding open access and transparency?

IRRODL was the first open-access journal established in Canada. All articles are licensed under a Creative Commons – Attribution International 4.0 license, allowing anyone to copy an article as long as proper attribution is given to the author and to IRRODL as the first place of publication. Copyright for all articles remains with the authors. IRRODL is committed to transparency in its processes, adhering to privacy regulations while maintaining the integrity of the double-blind peer review system.

What is the role of the Editor?

The Editor is responsible for overseeing the overall operation and reputation of the journal, which includes screening submissions and making decisions on accepting or declining articles based on double-blind peer review.

What is the role of the Managing Editor?

The Managing Editor coordinates and administers the editorial process from submission to publication. This includes assigning articles for peer review, acting as the primary contact for Editors and authors, pre-screening submissions for suitability, managing timelines, copyediting, proofreading, substantive editing, formatting, technical support, managing contracts, and maintaining the website and data. Additionally, the Managing Editor is responsible for grant writing, overseeing special projects, liaising with external stakeholders, and developing journal policies. The Managing Editor oversees the entire operation of the journal, ensuring editorial quality, staying current with trends, and coordinating complex publication logistics. This role also involves leadership in the global landscape of open scholarly publications, guiding the journal’s operations from submission to publication.

Does IRRODL keep a blacklist?

Yes. If authors are found to be plagiarizing or submitting the same article to multiple journals simultaneously, we maintain a record and will no longer accept submissions from them.

Is it the Editor’s responsibility to respond to authors and address their complaints?

Editors aim to respond to all queries in a timely manner. While we listen to complaints and take them into consideration, we do not always agree with the complainant’s perspective.

What software platform does IRRODL use?

IRRODL uses the Open Journal Systems (OJS). OJS is a journal management and publishing system that has been developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). While OJS is largely automated, there is a fair amount of manual input required for each submission, which is both time-consuming and can result in error.
 

The Review Process

What are the steps in the review process?

Papers submitted to IRRODL are processed by the Managing Editor, a process which may take several days due to the volume of submissions. The submission is then evaluated for suitability and readability. If it exceeds the word count limit, does not adhere to APA formatting, or raises questions about its suitability or readability, it is returned to the authors with instructions for revision. If the submission meets all standards, it is checked for plagiarism using Turnitin. If no plagiarism is detected, the paper is assigned to an Editor for review. The Editor reviews the paper and, if suitable, selects an appropriate reviewer to conduct a double-blind peer review. Each paper is assigned to approximately four reviewers, who are given one month to complete the review. Once reviews are received, the manuscript is considered collectively for inclusion in an upcoming issue. The Editor informs the authors of the decision. Papers that are declined cannot be re-submitted to IRRODL.

What is the average time from submission to copy editing to publication?

The average time from submission to copy editing is 60 days and to publication, +180 days.

How many reviews are needed to make a decision?

At least two substantive reviews are needed. If two substantive reviews are not forthcoming, then more reviewers are called on.

What happens when Turnitin reports instances of copying?

When Turnitin finds significant copying of previously published material (+30%), the author is notified and an explanation is requested. Using content from an author's thesis or unpublished school paper is acceptable. Using one’s previously published work is not acceptable. Plagiarism is not permitted under any circumstance and authors caught plagiarising will be blacklisted.

Who are the reviewers?

Reviewers are IRRODL authors or experts in the field. The full list of those who completed at least one recent review is available here.

How are reviewers selected?

Reviewers are self-selected. IRRODL depends on peer review; any author who is published in IRRODL, as a peer, is asked to join the reviewer database. Known experts in open and distributed learning are also invited to join from time-to-time. Sometimes, a reviewer recommends a colleague who is encouraged to join the database. Some reviewers, however, do not have the expertise to properly evaluate a paper and their responses can be either limited and unsophisticated or otherwise unsuitable. The Editors take these situational factors into account when evaluating submissions. Editors do not alter reviews in any way but send them to authors as they have been received by the reviewers.

Are reviewers charged with evaluating or editing the format of papers?

No, but most of our reviewers are teachers and they cannot help themselves. These technical edits are generally well-received by authors.

How are reviewers evaluated?

Editors evaluate reviewers on a 5-star rating system:

  • 5-stars (*****): A thorough, academically sound review that is well written and provides insightful feedback.
  • 4-stars (****): An adequate review that meets expectations, but lacks the depth or insight of a 5-star review.
  • 3-stars (***): A review that checks the necessary boxes but offers little to no detailed comments or constructive feedback.
  • 2-stars (**): A agrees to complete a review but fails to provide one.
  • 1-star (*): No response from the reviewer to our request to review.

Reviewers who receive a combination of 1-star, 2-star, or 3-star ratings are removed from the database. A 1-star rating often indicates that the reviewer is no longer available, as many reviewers change jobs or email addresses frequently.

We limit requests to good reviewers to two per year and rarely issue three requests to avoid overburdening them.

What if a reviewer is insensitive to authors in their evaluation?

If a reviewer is found to be insensitive to an author in their evaluation, we take the matter seriously. We expect all reviewers to maintain professionalism and respect for the work of authors, recognizing that feedback should be constructive and culturally sensitive. If a reviewer consistently demonstrates insensitivity or unprofessional behavior, they will be removed from our database. We strive to ensure that all reviews foster a respectful, academic environment. However, since the founding of IRRODL in 1999, we have not encountered this issue on a significant scale.

How do Editors choose reviewers for a specific article?

IRRODL maintains a database of reviewers along with their research interests. When selecting reviewers for a particular article, Editors first search the database for individuals whose expertise aligns with the subject area of the paper. Editors then check to ensure that potential reviewers have not completed a review in the last six months. To avoid overburdening reviewers, we limit requests to a maximum of two reviews per year, with a maximum of three reviews allowed in special cases. In some instances, it can be challenging to find suitable reviewers for specific papers.

Why is the review process taking so much time?

The review process can be time-consuming because Editors are dependent on the availability and responsiveness of reviewers. Editors typically select at least four reviewers for each article, expecting to receive a minimum of two usable reviews. While we often get one or two positive responses within the one-month deadline, it is common to receive no reply at all (as mentioned earlier regarding the evaluation of reviewers). Many reviewers who agree to review do submit their feedback on time, but others may need reminders. To ensure a fair review process, Editors regularly add new reviewers to the database. It is not unusual for us to contact six reviewers in order to secure two good reviews, and in some cases, we have contacted up to 16 reviewers before receiving the necessary feedback. While this process takes time, it is essential for maintaining the integrity and fairness of the review.

Can the Editor edit the reviews?

No, Editors cannot alter reviews in any way.

Does IRRODL give preferential treatment to the articles submitted by known experts in the field of open and distributed learning?

No, we do not give preferential treatment to articles from established experts. We prioritize newer authors and those from developing countries, offering them opportunities to excel. We also encourage these authors to participate as reviewers, providing them with valuable learning experiences in scholarly publishing.

How are articles accepted for publication?

Starting in 2020, an average of ten (10) research articles will be published per issue, with four (4) issues per year. Editors evaluate each issue for both quality and balance, and only papers that align with these criteria will be accepted for publication.

Why doesn't IRRODL accept declined articles if they have been revised according to reviewers' comments?

Once an article is declined, it is not accepted for re-evaluation. This policy is in place to respect the reviewers’ time and feedback. Authors of declined papers are encouraged to address the criticisms and submit their revised papers elsewhere.

Why are some papers rejected by the Editors without sending for review?

The Managing Editor rejects papers that are poorly written, fail to conform to APA style or the IRRODL submission guidelines, or exceed the word count limit. Authors can address the identified issues and resubmit the paper once. It is crucial that authors carefully read and follow the submission guidelines, which include templates and examples. After this stage, the Editors will assess the paper's relevance to the journal.

Why are some papers declined by the Editors without sending for review?

The most common reason for a paper's decline is that it is deemed not appropriate for the scope of the journal. IRRODL focuses on open and distributed learning, so more general education or educational technology research is typically not considered unless it directly pertains to our focus area. Other reasons for rejection may include concerns about the paper's quality, originality, or other shortcomings. Additionally, some papers may be declined due to the balance of content decided for a particular issue. Editors will always provide authors with a reason for the rejection via email.

What is double-blind review? Can a reviewer's or author's name be revealed during review?

Double-blind review means that both the author and the reviewer remain anonymous to each other. This ensures the confidentiality of both parties’ identities. However, there are times when a reviewer may guess the identity of the author, or vice versa. If this happens, the reviewer should inform us, and we will reassign the review. If the author is concerned about the fairness of the review due to a potential bias, we may consider sending the paper to an additional reviewer. In such cases, we may request a re-review.

Why do you insist on specific APA formatting for submissions before they are accepted?

Correct APA formatting is essential because it helps ensure that reviewers focus on the content rather than being distracted by formatting issues. Improper formatting can negatively impact the reviewer’s perception of the paper, affecting their evaluation. Additionally, it can create significant challenges during the copyediting process if the paper is accepted. Authors are encouraged to use the APA7 manual for formatting and reference management software for citations. The APA7 guidelines can be found here, and a list of reference management software can be found here. Authors can also use the IRRODL submission guideline template.

Why do you insist on a 7000-word maximum limit for article submissions?

While IRRODL, as an online journal, does not have the space constraints of a print journal, we set a 7,000-word limit for practical reasons. This word limit helps ensure that articles remain manageable for reviewers, editors, and readers. Additionally, we find that conciseness often enhances the quality of an article. Articles exceeding the word limit will be returned for resubmission by the Managing Editor.

How do I know when IRRODL releases a new issue?

New issues are posted on the IRRODL website homepage by the Managing Editor. Additionally, members receive an announcement via email once a new issue is published, sent through the OJS system. Members who sign up for any role (e.g., reader, reviewer, author) are automatically added to the mailing list. If you wish to be removed from this list, you can adjust your profile settings under notifications. For assistance, you can also email irrodlmanager@athabascau.ca.

Our Sponsors

Sources of Support

The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning receives support from Athabasca University, the Aide to Scholarly Journals Program of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and UNESCO.