Peer review process

Peer review process

  1. Manuscript Submission
  • The author submits a manuscript to journal via its online submission system.
  • The manuscript must comply with the journal’s formatting and submission guidelines.
  • A cover letter is usually included to highlight the significance of the work
  1. Initial Editorial Screening
  • The editor-in-chief or handling editor does a preliminary check to assess:
  • Relevance to the journal's scope
  • Basic quality and originality
  • Compliance with ethical standards
  • Manuscripts may be desk rejected at this stage if they are unsuitable or of low quality.
  1. Assignment to Reviewers
  • If the manuscript passes the initial screening, it is assigned to 2–3 expert reviewers (also called referees) in the relevant field.
  • Reviewers are often anonymous (depending on the type of peer review).
  • They assess the manuscript's methodology, analysis, novelty, and clarity.
  1. Peer Review
  • Single-blind: Reviewers know the author's identity; authors do not know reviewers.
  1. Reviewers Submit Reports
  • Reviewers typically provide:
    • Detailed feedback (comments on strengths, weaknesses, errors, or needed improvements)
  • A recommendation, such as:
    • Accept as is
    • Resubmission
    • Request for Revision
    • Reject
  1. Editorial Decision
  • Based on reviewers’ comments and recommendations, the editor makes a decision:
  • Accept: The paper is accepted with or without minor revisions.
  • Revise and Resubmit: Authors must address concerns and submit a revised version.
  • Reject: The paper is declined, often with feedback for improvement.
  1. Revision and Resubmission
  • The author revises the manuscript and writes a response letter detailing how each comment was addressed.
  • The revised manuscript may be sent back to the same reviewers for reassessment.
  1. Final Decision
  • Once all concerns are satisfactorily addressed, the editor makes the final decision to accept the manuscript.
  • The paper then proceeds to copyediting, typesetting, and eventually publication
  1. Publication
  • Accepted papers are published in online.