Reviewer Guidelines

Reviewer Guidelines

  1. Review Assignment
  • Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality throughout the review process. Do not disclose any details of the manuscript or review process to others.
  • Conflict of Interest: If you have any conflicts of interest related to the manuscript, including personal, financial, or professional connections to the authors, notify the editorial office immediately and recuse yourself from the review.
  1. Review Process
  • Timeliness: Review the manuscript within the time frame provided. If you require additional time, contact the editorial office as soon as possible.
  • Scope of Review: Assess the manuscript’s originality, significance, methodological rigor, clarity, and contribution to the field. Consider whether the study advances knowledge in the social sciences.
  1. Review Criteria
  • Relevance: Evaluate if the manuscript is relevant to the journal’s scope and objectives.
  • Originality: Assess the originality of the research and whether it provides new insights or advances existing knowledge.
  • Methodology: Review the research design, methods, and data analysis for rigor and appropriateness.
  • Results and Interpretation: Ensure that results are presented clearly and are supported by the data. Consider whether the conclusions are justified based on the findings.
  • Clarity and Structure: Check for clarity in writing and organization. Ensure that the manuscript is well-structured and free of grammatical and typographical errors.
  • References: Verify that the manuscript cites relevant and recent literature and that references are complete and accurate.
  1. Feedback
  • Constructive Comments: Provide detailed, constructive feedback that will help authors improve their manuscript. Be specific about strengths and weaknesses.
  • Recommendations: Based on your review, recommend one of the following actions:
    •  Accept
    •  Minor revisions
    •   Major revisions
    •   Reject
  • Anonymity: Your comments will be shared with the authors, so please maintain professionalism and avoid personal remarks.
  1. Ethical Considerations
  • Ethical Standards: Ensure that the manuscript adheres to ethical standards, including proper citation practices, ethical treatment of research subjects, and transparency in reporting.
  • Data Integrity: Be vigilant for signs of data manipulation, fabrication, or plagiarism. Report any concerns to the editorial office.
  1. Revisions
  • Follow-up: If the manuscript is returned to the authors for revisions, review the revised manuscript to ensure that all your comments and suggestions have been addressed.
  1. Final Decision

Editorial Decision: The final decision on the manuscript will be made by the editor based on your review and the feedback from other reviewers. Your recommendation will be a key factor in this decision.

  1. Confidentiality and Ethics
  • Review Confidentiality:  Do not discuss or share information about the manuscript or the review process with anyone outside of the review process.
  • Ethical Review: Follow ethical guidelines for reviewing manuscripts and ensure a fair and unbiased assessment.