Peer-Review

Peer Review Process Outline

1. Manuscript Submission

   • Author submits the manuscript to the journal.
   • Editorial Office conducts an initial check for completeness and compliance with submission guidelines.

2. Initial Assessment

   • Editor-in-Chief (EIC) or Main Handling Editor performs an initial assessment.
   • The manuscript is evaluated for scope, originality, and relevance.
   • Decision Point:
     • Reject if the manuscript does not meet basic criteria.
     • Proceed to Peer Review if the manuscript is deemed suitable.

3. Reviewer Selection

   • Editor selects reviewers based on their expertise and availability.
   • Typically, 2-4 reviewers are invited.
   • Reviewers accept or decline the invitation.

4. Review Process

   • Reviewers conduct a thorough evaluation of the manuscript.
   • Each reviewer submits a detailed review report, including:
     • Assessment of originality, significance, methodology, and clarity.
     • Suggestions for improvement.
     • Recommendation (Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, Reject).

5. Editorial Decision

   • Editor, i.e. Section Editor and Main Handling Editor evaluate the reviewers' comments and recommendations.
   • Decision Point:
     • Accept the manuscript as is.
     • Minor Revision required before acceptance.
     • Major Revision needed, requiring another round of review.
     • Reject the manuscript.

6. Author Revision

   • Authors receive feedback and are requested to revise the manuscript.
   • Revised Manuscript is submitted back to the journal.

7. Re-Review (if necessary)

   • Editor may send the revised manuscript back to the original reviewers.
   • Reviewers assess the revisions and provide additional feedback.

8. Final Decision

   • Main Handling Editor and Editor-in-Chief make the final decision based on the reviewers’ feedback on the revised manuscript.
   • Decision Point:
     • Accept the manuscript.
     • Reject the manuscript if revisions are inadequate.

9. Copyediting and Proofreading

   • Accepted Manuscript undergoes copyediting and proofreading.
   • Authors review and approve the final proofs.

10. Publication

    • Final Manuscript is published in the journal.
    • Authors and readers are notified of the publication.

Schematic Representation

• Submission → Initial Assessment → Reviewer Selection → Review Process → Editorial Decision → Author Revision → Re-Review → Final Decision → Copyediting → Publication