Peer Review Process

Peer Review Process

In the initial stage, the Editor-in-Chief reviews the manuscript for its alignment with the journal’s aims and scope, as well as its preliminary scientific and editorial quality. The initial screening takes up to a maximum of four weeks. The outcome of this initial review, whether acceptance or rejection, is communicated to the author.

Manuscripts approved in the initial screening are then sent to at least two expert reviewers for specialized evaluation. If one reviewer rejects the manuscript while the other accepts it, the manuscript will be sent to a third reviewer for further assessment. The reviews are conducted through a double anonymous peer review process.

After receiving the reviewers’ reports, the Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial board members, reviews the findings and makes the final decision. The decision is communicated to the author and may be one of the following:

  • Accepted without revisions: The manuscript is accepted for publication without any changes.
  • Accepted with minor revisions: The manuscript is accepted conditionally, and authors are required to make minor revisions according to reviewers’ comments within a specified timeframe.
  • Accepted with major revisions: The manuscript is conditionally accepted subject to substantial revisions based on reviewers’ and/or editor’s feedback, which must be completed within a set deadline.
  • Resubmission required (conditional rejection): The manuscript is not accepted in its current form but may be reconsidered after major revisions and resubmission.
  • Rejected: The manuscript is deemed unsuitable for publication, and even with revisions, it will not be reconsidered.

The final decision on acceptance or rejection is made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the editorial board, based on the reviewers’ evaluations and the overall quality of the manuscript.

Average time for the review process

The initial screening process typically takes an average of 2 week and up to 4 weeks. Overall, the entire review and decision-making process usually lasts about 12 weeks and can extend up to 30 weeks.

It is worth noting that the article acceptance rate in this journal is approximately 14%, reflecting a highly selective and rigorous peer-review process

The following figure shows the article review process: