The South India Journal of Social Sciences (SIJSS) follows a double-blind peer review process to uphold the integrity and quality of published research. This ensures that the identities of both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.
Review Process:
- Initial Screening: The editorial team conducts a preliminary review to assess the manuscript’s relevance, originality, adherence to submission guidelines, and ethical compliance, including plagiarism checks.
- Reviewer Assignment: Manuscripts passing the initial screening are sent to at least One independent reviewer with expertise in the subject area.
- Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers assess manuscripts based on:
- Originality and significance of the research
- Clarity and coherence of presentation
- Soundness of methodology and data analysis
- Contribution to the field and alignment with the journal’s scope
- Ethical compliance in research and publication
- Reviewers’ Recommendations: Based on their assessment, reviewers provide one of the following recommendations:
- Accept – Suitable for publication with minor or no revisions.
- Revise and Resubmit – Requires substantial revisions before reconsideration.
- Reject – Does not meet the journal’s academic or ethical standards.
The editorial team carefully considers all reviewer comments before making a final decision. However, the Editor-in-Chief holds the final authority over manuscript acceptance or rejection.
Review Ethics and Confidentiality
- Ethical Standards: Reviewers are expected to adhere to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines for peer review.
- Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep all manuscript details and communications confidential before, during, and after the review process. Sharing content with unauthorized parties, including artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, is strictly prohibited unless transparently declared.
- Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could bias their evaluation.
- Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide objective, constructive, and respectful feedback, focusing on improving the manuscript rather than personal critique.
By maintaining a rigorous and ethical peer review process, SIJSS ensures the publication of high-quality research while upholding academic integrity.