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Reviewer's Guidelines

Before you Review
Once a manuscript is assigned to you for review, please consider the following points:

  • Does the manuscript match your Areas of Expertise?

  • Do you have enough time to spare for a detailed review of the article?

  • Is there any conflict of interest with the authors?

  • Are you planning to write an article on the same topic?

If you feel that you can properly carry out the evaluation of the assigned article without any problem, you can request to take up the review process from the Editorial System.​

Peer Review Process
Once you have taken up the article for evaluation, please keep in mind the following points:

  • Confidentiality
    You are acting as a representative of the journal and all files sent to you are extremely confidential. Being a reviewer, you cannot share any documents and/or information without proper authorization from the Editorial Team. If you would like to add any colleague in the review process, you will have to discuss with an Editorial Assistant first. Reviewers should also take extreme caution with research ideas and should not in any case use the data and/or topics in their own personal manuscripts.

  • Timely Review
    A good and productive review process takes significant time. However, as authors are eagerly awaiting the evaluation results, we request our reviewers to deliver their comments within 2-3 weeks. If you feel that the article requires extensive reading, please inform the Editorial Office within the first week.

  • Ethics
    Being a reviewer, you also have to take into consideration if the article has any ethical issues. If you feel that the article in parts or in full has improperly copied any existing research, please raise this with the Editors. You should also check to see if the article is based on accuracy rather than personal statements and objective

Structure

The structure and content is the essential part of a manuscript. Reviewers should put their main focus on this portion and a majority of the review report should concentrate on the quality of the research. Reviewers should carefully evaluate the following aspects of a manuscript:

  • Originality and Scope
    Is the research topic a current and innovative idea? Is there any discussion on this matter and is it related to the scope of the journal? Has there been any previous research in this area? If so, is there any need for further research? Would the journal or any reader benefit from this article? Is there significant interest in this area of research?

  • Title
    Does the title properly explain the purpose and objective of the article? Is it too lengthy (Readers usually prefer clear and concise titles)?

  • Abstract
    Does the abstract contain an appropriate summary for the article? Is the language used in the abstract easy to read and understand? Are there any suggestions for improvement?

  • Introduction
    Do the authors provide adequate background on the topic and reason for this article? Does this section describe what the authors hoped to achieve? The introduction should provide a detailed outline for the article including the proposed experiment, the research method and results.

  • Materials and Methods
    Is there detailed information on the experiment and research? Do the authors approach the subject with the proper method? Do they provide sufficient reasoning for their approach? Are the sample data and design clearly outlined? Can readers use the information given to replicate the research? Are all the measurements, equipment and materials adequately described?

  • Results
    • Are the results presented in a clear manner?
    • Do the authors provide accurate research results?
    • Is there sufficient evidence for each result?

  • Conclusion
    Is there any flaws in the research results and methodology? Does the research provide ample data for the authors to make their conclusion? Have the authors highlighted their future implications and usage of their research? Is there any scope for further improvement? Did the authors outline the objective of their conclusions?

  • Final Recommendation
    Once you have evaluated the manuscript in a detailed manner, you can submit your review report to the Editorial Team. 

Review Decision

When delivering a Review Decision, you have to select from any of the following three options:

  • Accept in Current State: The manuscript is suitable for publication in its current condition and should be considered for publication immediately. You should provide adequate reasoning for your decision.

  • Accept with Revisions: The manuscript provides solid reasoning, focuses on an important issue and should be considered for publication. There are a few issues that should be addressed by the authors. The manuscript should be revised to fulfill the requirements of the journal.

  • Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication and should not be considered for publication in its current state. You should provide adequate reason for your decision to allow authors to improve their research

Review Format

Once you have decided your final decision on the article, please prepare your comments according to the journal’s Evaluation Report.

  • Impressions and Comments: This section should outline your views on the manuscript which may include the answers to the above-mentioned questions. You can provide reasoning for your decision.

  • Suggestions: The suggestions section is the key part of the evaluation form. You should clearly outline all the suggestions that you have for the authors to make their manuscript ready for publication. Please make sure to add your recommendations and revisions only in this section and not mix anywhere else. You can provide the authors a checklist to follow to modify their manuscript.

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