Peer Review Guidelines
Best practices and standards for conducting rigorous, fair, and constructive peer review.
Core Principles of Peer Review
Objectivity
Evaluate the manuscript based on its scientific merit, not personal opinions or biases.
Confidentiality
Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. Do not share or discuss them with others.
Timeliness
Complete your review within the agreed timeframe, typically 14-21 days.
Review Process Guidelines
Begin by reading the manuscript thoroughly to understand its scope and objectives:
- Does the manuscript fall within the journal's scope?
- Is the research question clearly defined and relevant?
- Are the objectives and hypotheses clearly stated?
- Is the study design appropriate for the research question?
Tip:
If the manuscript is outside your area of expertise or you have a conflict of interest, decline the invitation immediately.
Making Your Recommendation
The manuscript is scientifically sound, original, and suitable for publication with only minor editorial changes.
The manuscript is acceptable but requires small improvements (e.g., clarification, additional analysis, minor restructuring).
Significant concerns exist, but the work has potential. Substantial revisions are needed (e.g., additional experiments, major restructuring).
The manuscript has fundamental flaws that cannot be addressed through revision, or it is not suitable for the journal.
Conflicts of Interest
You must decline to review if you have any of the following conflicts:
- You have collaborated with any of the authors in the past 3 years
- You are from the same institution as any author
- You have a personal or professional relationship with the authors
- You have a financial interest in the work or its outcome
- You have strong personal views that might bias your review