ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR REVIEWERS
The following guidelines help ensure that the peer review process is fair, transparent, and rigorous, and that the research published in the journal is of high quality and meets ethical standards.
Expertise
Reviewers should have the necessary expertise to evaluate the manuscript’s content and methodology, and should decline to review if they do not have the necessary knowledge.
Disclosure of Conflict of Interest
Reviewers should declare any conflicts of interest that might influence their review, such as personal or professional relationships with the authors, funding sources, or institutions involved in the research.
Confidentiality
Reviewers must treat the manuscript they are reviewing as confidential and must not share its contents with anyone outside of the review process without the editor’s permission.
Objectivity & Impartiality
Reviewers should approach each manuscript objectively, without bias or personal prejudice, and should focus their comments on the scientific content of the paper.
Timeliness
Reviewers should complete their review in a timely manner and notify the editor if they are unable to meet the deadline.
Constructive Feedback
Reviewers should provide constructive and helpful feedback to the authors and provide specific suggestions for improvement, with the aim of improving the quality of the manuscript.
Ethical considerations
Reviewers should be alert to any potential ethical issues raised by the research, such as concerns regarding animal welfare or human subjects’’ protection, and should report any such ethical concerns to the editor.
Citation & Attribution
Reviewers should ensure that the manuscript acknowledges the contributions of others and that any material used is properly cited and attributed.
Avoidance of Plagiarism
Reviewers should alert the editor to any significant similarity between the manuscript they are reviewing and other published works that they are aware of. Reviewers should notify the editor if they suspect that the manuscript contains plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct.
Follow Guidelines
Reviewers should follow the guidelines provided by the journal for reviewing manuscripts and provide a thorough, well-written review.
Respectful Communication
Reviewers should communicate their critiques and recommendations in a respectful and professional manner, and avoid personal attacks or derogatory comments.
Accountability
Reviewers should take responsibility for their reviews and be prepared to defend their criticisms and recommendations.
