Reviewer Guidelines
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.