Technical editors in scientific journals: guardians of quality and efficiency in the dissemination of knowledge

Abstract

This research analyses the impact of technical editors in scientific journals through a comparative study of six journals indexed in the Portal de Revistas of the University of Panama and six without technical editors, between 2021 and 2024. The aim of this research was to explore in depth the role of the technical editor in scientific journals, considering their competencies, advantages and training, and to provide advice for the incorporation of these technical editors in the editorial teams of other current journals. Open-ended interviews and statistical analyses were used to assess their performance. The findings reveal that the addition of technical editors increased article production by 50% in most of the journals analysed, improved publication times and reduced rejection rates. The methodology included statistical analysis using Student's t-test, which showed significant differences in scientific production before and after the incorporation of these professionals (p < 0.05). The results underline the importance of their technical training, experience in editorial management and mastery of information technologies. This study concludes that technical editors play a strategic role in improving the quality and efficiency of scientific publications.