Reviewer Guidelines

Reviewer Guidelines 

Purpose of Peer Review

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and integrity of [Your Journal Name]. The peer review process ensures that submitted manuscripts meet the journal's standards of academic rigor, originality, and relevance.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  1. Confidentiality: Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. Do not share or discuss the content with anyone outside the editorial team.
  2. Timeliness: Submit your review within the agreed-upon timeframe. If you are unable to meet the deadline, notify the editor immediately.
  3. Objectivity: Provide constructive feedback in a professional and respectful manner. Avoid personal criticism of the authors.
  4. Conflict of Interest: Declare any potential conflicts of interest (e.g., personal, financial, or academic relationships with the authors or institutions involved).

Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers should assess the manuscript based on the following aspects:

1. Originality and Relevance

  • Does the manuscript present novel insights or findings?
  • Is the work relevant to the journal's scope and target audience?

2. Structure and Clarity

  • Is the manuscript well-organized and easy to follow?
  • Are the title, abstract, and keywords informative and reflective of the content?

3. Scientific Rigor

  • Are the research questions or hypotheses clearly stated?
  • Are the methods appropriate and sufficiently described?
  • Is the data analysis robust and accurate?

4. Results and Interpretation

  • Are the results presented clearly and logically?
  • Are the conclusions supported by the data?
  • Are limitations of the study acknowledged?

5. Ethical Considerations

  • Does the manuscript adhere to ethical research standards?
  • Is there evidence of proper citation and avoidance of plagiarism?

6. Language and Presentation

  • Is the language clear and grammatically correct?
  • Are figures, tables, and references accurate and appropriately used?

Review Format

Please structure your review as follows:

  1. Summary: Provide a brief summary of the manuscript, highlighting its main contributions.
  2. Strengths: List the strengths of the manuscript.
  3. Weaknesses and Suggestions for Improvement: Offer specific feedback on areas that need improvement.
  4. Recommendation: Choose one of the following recommendations:
    • Accept
    • Minor revisions
    • Major revisions
    • Reject

Additional Notes

  • Provide detailed comments for the authors, as well as confidential comments to the editor, if necessary.
  • If the manuscript cites your work, ensure that this does not influence your objectivity.

Authors are invited to submit their research to IJDS. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

 Don't hesitate to contact the editorial team at [ijds@mtu.edu.iq] for any inquiries.