Peer review is a crucial process in academic publishing to ensure the quality, validity, and originality of a manuscript before it is published. This process involves a critical evaluation of the manuscript by experts (peers) in the same field as the author.

Stages of the Peer Review Process

Generally, the peer review process consists of several key stages:

1. Manuscript Submission: The author submits the manuscript to a journal.
2. Initial Editorial Screening: The Editor-in-Chief or a managing editor conducts an initial check to ensure the manuscript aligns with the journal's focus and scope and meets basic formatting requirements. If not, the manuscript will be rejected outright (desk rejection).
3. Reviewer Assignment: If the manuscript passes the initial screening, the editor assigns two to three reviewers who are experts in the relevant field.
4. Review Process: The reviewers read the manuscript carefully and provide an in-depth evaluation. They assess aspects such as:
• The significance and originality of the research.
• The validity of the methodology.
• The clarity of writing and structure.
• The relevance of the findings and conclusions.
5. Editor's Decision: Based on the reviewers' feedback, the editor makes a final decision, which can be:
• Accepted: The manuscript is accepted with no or only minor revisions.
• Minor Revision: The manuscript can be accepted after the author makes small improvements.
• Major Revision: The manuscript requires substantial improvements before it can be reconsidered.
• Rejected: The manuscript is declined for various reasons, such as a flawed methodology or lack of relevance to the journal.
6. Revision and Resubmission: If revisions are requested, the author must revise the manuscript according to the reviewers' feedback and resubmit it.
7. Final Decision: After the revision, the editor will re-evaluate the manuscript and make a final decision.

Purpose and Benefits of Peer Review

• Quality Enhancement: This process helps authors identify weaknesses in their research, making the published manuscript more robust and credible.
• Scientific Validation: Peer review ensures that research findings are supported by a solid methodology and strong evidence.
• Prevention of Plagiarism and Fraud: An independent third-party review helps to detect potential plagiarism or manipulated data.
• Gateway to Knowledge: The process acts as a filter, ensuring that only high-quality and relevant research enters the scholarly literature.

Peer Review Model

The peer review model used is Double-blind.