PEER REVIEW PROCESS

How every manuscript is actually evaluated.

Every manuscript submitted to any of our three journals goes through the same six stages. Here is exactly what happens, in order.

STAGE 01

Editorial desk review

The handling editor checks scope fit and formatting compliance. Manuscripts that fall outside journal scope or fail basic requirements are returned at this stage — before external reviewers are engaged — so you’re not left waiting on a review that was never going to happen.
STAGE 02

Reviewer assignment

The editor invites two or more reviewers with direct expertise in your manuscript’s specific subfield, drawn from the journal’s editorial board and an external reviewer pool.
STAGE 03

Independent review

Reviewers assess originality, methodological soundness, clarity and contribution to the field, submitting written comments and a recommendation: accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject.
STAGE 04

Editorial decision

The Editor-in-Chief weighs all reviewer input and issues a single decision with the full set of anonymized comments attached, so you always know exactly what to address.
STAGE 05

Revision & re-review

Revised manuscripts are returned to the original reviewers where possible, alongside your point-by-point response to each comment raised.
STAGE 06

Copyediting & publication

Accepted manuscripts are copyedited, typeset, and published — the abstract free to read immediately, the formatted PDF available as a reprint.

WHAT REVIEWERS ASSESS

Four questions every reviewer answers.

Is the research question original and clearly stated?

Is the methodology sound and adequately described for replication?

Do the conclusions follow from the data presented?

Does the work meaningfully advance its field?

FOR PROSPECTIVE REVIEWERS

We’re always expanding our reviewer pool across all three disciplines. Reach out with your area of expertise and we’ll be in touch.