Dr. Melba Ketchum: Delays And Paper Getting Sent Back Is Part Of The Peer Review Process
As any scientist can tell you, the cornerstone of maintaining the quality of scientific papers is the peer review system. This process ensures that the information in any scientific publication is verifiable and meets quality standard. Papers that are submitted to scientific journals are reviewed anonymously by experts in the field. The paper either gets approved, rejected or sent back to the editor, with recommendations for improvements. Most papers require some degree of modification before publication.
According to an update on Dr. Melba Ketchum's Facebook page,
I want to remind everyone that is getting a little too anxious that when submitting a manuscript, you have to give the peer reviewers every minute detail that they ask for or you take the chance of the manuscript being delayed or rejected because you didn't do what they asked you to do. Sometimes it is a lot more data/revisions and sometimes not. They can send it back with requests multiple times also. As I said, I (as a peer reviewer also) sent one back recently 4 times (2 major revisions and two minor ones) It took months on the first two and then a couple of weeks on the next two revisions and just finally was approved for publication after the original submission last year. One thing is for sure, if they had not revised it per the reviewers' instructions, it would not have been published and this paper had 10 or so PhDs on it. What we have done is not simple, even with a number of authors. It has taken a lot of teamwork, conference calls and innovation. I still repeat, it will come out and the science is good and sound with lots of overkill for the sake of the peer reviewers and all the skeptics out there. The time it takes to complete revisions and requests for revisions are out of our control though.
- Dr. Melba Ketchum
I thought she meant that she was a peer reviewer of a paper written by 10 or more PhDs.
ReplyDeleteOops. You're right. This post was a little rushed :) I corrected this.
DeleteWell, I have to give her credit for the effort. She is the one of a few who are willing to risk a career and reputation to try and address the mystery.
ReplyDeleteA point that many critics conveniently ignore. She has a lot at stake on this being done well.
DeleteFollowing Anon's post at 6:28pm -Which for me explains her control of the situation. If it were me I'd do the same.
DeleteMuch at stake? She is a DVM who had a market doing quick DNA tests for mostly dogs and horses. First, I doubt those customers will hear or care much about the fringe bigfoot DNA stuff. Second, based upon the BBB report, her reputation and care for said reputation is less than stellar.
DeleteI know many of you all hope for the grand slam with this thing, and still cling to it no matter the shakey provenance of the evidence, but blind faith is simply that, blind faith. I will soon be opening 1-888-BIG-FOOT. It will be a crisis intervention line to talk down either the proponents or the opponents once this multi-year circus finally pulls down the bigtop and leaves town either successfully or in a ball of flames.
As a professional with a document of discovery, in review, her motivation for NOT delaying this any possible moment longer than needed is simple. If she for ANY reason has her paper in the MILL too long, she will simply be placed in second place behind the European, China or any other number of DNA documents being published to prove a hidden Hominid, albeit N. American - not the real point... Yes, you can rest assured other DNA studies exist, as Melba's, does, in efforts to be first to capitol - it. Now, these 'other' studies being conducted, what about them? Why have we heard nothing about them? What's up peeps? Well, mostly all professional peer reviewed discovery events just are not known about until the day of the published date. Really! Many scientific types will sometimes advance an arguement via a short essay on a given subject, that, they intend to publish in the future disclosing previously unknown knowledge. An example would be the every changing theories of Higgs-Boson - as an example. So, in close, the DNA study we hear of that is peer reviewed just might be from an author or set of authors from let's say, Idaho... Not Texas!
DeleteSounds to me like the above skeptic is starting to get a little nervous and worried about the possibility of a report coming out. He/she is now talking about opening up a "hot line." Life goes on for those of us who have had personal encounters with a sasquatch regardless of how this report turns out. For people like you, your days are numbered. The more people learn about this creature through reports, etc. the more that the mainstream media is willing to accept this.
DeleteBut still we wait while the Facebook hype grows
ReplyDeleteI think we can interpret this as "It will be out some time next year".
ReplyDeleteOr...it will be out some time. :)
Deletedec 21st 2012
ReplyDeleteThat *is* a Friday...
DeleteI think it is far more likely the world will end on 12/21/12 than this paper ever being released.
DeleteIt’s probably smarter to wait and see.
Deletelol yup
DeleteAs much of a yawn as this whole thing has become, I'm curious to see how this money-making or publicity-seeking scam turns out.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a thing going?
DeleteI feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteAt least she finally admitted that the whole "press embargo" was a lie.
ReplyDeletethere is an embargo and she didn't say there wasn't one
DeleteCan you please quote the admittion that there was a lie about a press embargo? I've totally missed it.. again..
Delete1%
"Sally here - There is a lot of chatter on various forums speculating about the peer-review process. YES, authors can CHOOSE to present their findings pre-publication at conferences. YES, they can CHOOSE to share copies of their paper pre-submission"
DeleteAccording to Sally, Melba CHOSE not to share her findings or any pre publications of her paper. She makes it clear it was a choice, and not on account of any "embargo.:"
"AnonymousMar 29, 2012 07:16 PM" puts the beat down on "AnonymousMar 29, 2012 07:12 PM"
DeleteThe lie was that Ketchum had said all along that the Journal forbid any disclosure of the contents of said "paper". Ketchum admitted that this was a lie, it's just that simple Footbots.
Deletei think when this is released it will still be same b.s. that it is now.sorry but i just can't see this whole dna thing nothing but a long awaited dissappointment.
ReplyDeleteThat depends on your expectations. DNA can only answer so many questions, alone. In that way, many people may be dissapointed... Dr. Ketchum's study won't solve the whole mystery for us. Sorry.
DeleteBut interesting/compelling, maybe? Compelling to the scientific community... One can hope!
David from the PAC/NW
I agree. Just want to say David I always enjoy your comments.
DeleteI don't agree. DNA solves the question whether the species is there and if it solves that question, more questions will follow yes but the proof is in.
DeleteThe paper will just be the start of the investigation into the DNA, as it is for humans and other species. Laboratories routinely now produce genome sequences for examining ways to improve breeding of, say, beef cattle herds or forestry trees. Time to enter the 21st century for those that are wondering what this is all about. Ketchums study is just step one in a very long road.It is not going to be the end but the beginning of an exciting time in understanding these hominids.
DeleteNot sure if this is the place to post this, but it may be of interest. Skeptic Magazine produces a podcast called Monster Talk that discusses monsters and myths in popular culture, which frequently includes bigfoot. I just got the newest episode in my itunes and noticed this week's topic is "What the Bigfoot market will bear" (Pennsylvania trail cam pics). I haven't listened to this one yet, but the past bigfoot episodes (especially the MN Iceman episode) are certainly entertaining. I'm not affiliated with the show, just thought many of you would be interested.
ReplyDeleteExcelsior.
I'm looking forward to your Pod-Report.
DeleteMichael Shermer is such a loser.
DeleteI think it's very clear her paper has NOT yet been submitted for review. She merely describes the extreme diligence and time expectations she has observed with OTHER works. So "point blank" Dr Ketchum -- has your paper been in fact been submitted for "peer review" to any of the academic colleagues you have targetted for your final journal submission?
ReplyDelete(Quit holding your breath, people.)
I guess you and the rest of us will find out in due course. Take a deep breath and stop asking nonsensical questions. She doesn't have to explain anything to anyone, though she chooses to at least keep interested aparties informed to the extent she sees fit. Learn to live with it and stop creating problems that do not exist in reality. She has nothing whatever to prove to you for one.
DeleteMelba is like the father most of us never had.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Melba think she is the only one that can prove the existence of Bigfoot? A-Because she is the only one who can "Ketchum"
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteMelba's toast.
ReplyDeleteDon't you mean steak?
DeleteAt some point, she will have to admit failure. She can't continue this charade forever. Even her blind minions will turn on her.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I never saw her as a media hound, with an on-going charade. I saw her as secretive and distant, with other people wanting more out of her than she was willing to share.
DeleteTell me have you ever worried that someday after waiting 2,3,or more years and Dr. Ketchum giving us endless monthly updates saying please be patient I expect the DNA Study to be Published any day now ! "Just be Patient" Well I was thinking about this and some conspiracy theorys began to work their way to the surface, what if this was the biggest HOAX of them all. What if the government Hijacked this study and decided this will never be released so one day as your reading the news you hear that a fire consumed all the records of this study or maybe the Journal comes back and just says we cannot endorse these results of this Bigfoot DNA Paper because Dr. Ketchum has not adequatley presented her finding to suit our scientists. How would you feel if this was the result of waiting 3 years for this DNA study to finally end the question "Is Bigfoot Real" If they come back and refuse the evidence or lose it or classify it what will all you do ? I know I will beat it down the road and never look back at this Crazy Community. It has never been anything but Heartbreak ! And to find out after telling all my family that the big news that Bigfoot is real is just months away and then be LET DOWN again I don't think I could take the Ridicule Again ! Hell my family already thinks I'm a screwball forever trusting anyone in this community. If Dr. Ketchum study is never published this field of study is dead ! Maybe that is what they wanted all along ????
ReplyDeleteIt’s probably smarter to wait and see.
DeleteThis is the scenario that the blind faithers will adopt. Their beloved Ketchum would not ever lie to them therefore, it must be a conspiracy of gov't or skeptic nature...or both.
DeleteIs your stance one of pre-cognition of a giant conspiracy to come? Why is it that all empirecal evidence of bigfoot is just around the next bend or corner but when it innevitivtely happens that there is no evidence it is someone elses fault? Those of us who find the existence of bigfoot highly questionable simply want someone at sometime to show us real evidence.
DeleteThose of us who have seen, know.
DeleteIt’s probably smarter to wait and see.
The level of hate here is amazing. Do all of you really have that hard a time getting laid?
ReplyDeleteYou confuse disbelief and refusal to be taken for fools with hate. Please show where the hate is.
ReplyDeleteIt’s probably smarter to wait and see.
DeleteIt’s probably smarter to wait and see.
DeleteYou're fools.
DeleteIt’s probably less foolish to wait and see.
DeleteI seem to remember her saying that her paper was a "slam dunk" & she had all her "t's crossed & i's dotted." How many years ago was that, now?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that her paper will be a super-scientific marvel because she has so much experience with super-scientifical peer revue. She even has a facebook page & publicist to keep everybody informed. Just like all the real scientists do.
I have come to realize that this is a purely selfish endeavor that will only harm the cause.
ReplyDeleteLike so many others before her if there is profit or popularity ppl will do it no matter what harm comes.
It's an amazing article in support of all the internet viewers; they will take benefit from it I am sure.
ReplyDeleteHere is my web-site : weightloss help
I am not sure where you're getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this info for my mission.
ReplyDeleteHere is my weblog ; weight loss solutions
Let's be serious, no journal is going to risk it's "academia" reputation by publishing a bigfoot article. So-called academics make a living by repeating the same old crap over and over and over, with little or no innovation. So to hell with them, we'll believe as we like.
ReplyDeleteWhat really bothers these skeptics is that their articles aren't talked about on websites, talk shows, etc. They want fame but risk nothing to earn it. Melba may be a quack, but she put herself out there, and puts up with all the "professors" who know everything about everything, all the time.
If you have attempted to have sex recently and failed the next
ReplyDeletetime could be an anxious moment and the more you think about
it the more you are likely to fail again. The disease in its advanced stages reduces
mobility because of the chronic pain it causes. Doctors generally do not prescribe
supplements, but they can if they found some supplements good.
My page - Mose