Soft Skills in Editorial and Communicational Management of Scientific Journals

Abstract

Introduction: In the context of the digital economy, the editorial management of scientific journals combines technical and normative demands with constant interaction among authors, reviewers, and editors. Although indexing metrics and prestige have been widely studied, there remains a gap regarding the influence of soft skills on perceived quality and the international positioning of journals. Methodology: This was a quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study. An online survey was administered to faculty-researchers with recent experience in publication processes. The questionnaire included nine descriptive questions, sixteen Likert-scale items measuring soft skills, and one open-ended question. Frequencies, Spearman’s correlation, and the Kruskal–Wallis test were applied. Results: A total of 394 researchers participated. Most reported favorable perceptions across the four dimensions, although variations emerged according to indexing level. Correlations between soft skills and indexing were negative and significant, and the Kruskal–Wallis test confirmed differences in mean ranks. Discussion: Higher prestige and indexing were associated with lower perceptions of human engagement in editorial management, aligning with studies that highlight the divergence between technical excellence and relational quality. Conclusions: A higher perceived level of soft skills is associated with a more favorable author evaluation of the editorial experience and process. We recommend complementing performance metrics with indicators of perceived editorial interaction.