Editorial Policies

Our journals follow established principles and best practices to uphold a fair, transparent, and ethical publishing process. Below are the policies governing editorial decision-making, responsibilities, and complaint handling.

Editorial Decision-Making Process

  • Initial Assessment: All submissions are initially screened by the editorial team for relevance, originality, and compliance with the journal’s guidelines.
  • Peer Review: Manuscripts that pass the initial assessment undergo a rigorous peer-review process, typically double-blind, to ensure objective evaluation.
  • Editorial Decision: Editors consider peer reviewers' feedback, the manuscript’s quality, and its relevance to the journal’s scope when making decisions. Possible outcomes include acceptance, minor or major revisions, or rejection.
  • Transparency: Authors are provided with detailed feedback on decisions, including reviewer comments where applicable.
  • Timeliness: The editorial team endeavors to process submissions promptly while maintaining a thorough review process.

Editor Responsibilities and Conflict of Interest Management

  • Impartiality: Editors must evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit, without discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, religious belief, citizenship, or political ideology.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all submissions, ensuring that information is only shared with those involved in the publication process.
  • Conflict of Interest:
    • Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest, such as a personal, financial, or professional relationship with the authors.
    • In such cases, the manuscript will be reassigned to another editor to ensure impartiality.
  • Ethical Oversight: Editors are responsible for identifying and addressing any ethical concerns, such as plagiarism or data fabrication, in submitted manuscripts.

Handling Appeals and Complaints

  • Appeals:
    • Authors may appeal editorial decisions if they believe there has been a misunderstanding or error.
    • Appeals must be submitted in writing, outlining the grounds for reconsideration, and will be reviewed by a senior editor or an independent reviewer.
    • Decisions on appeals are final and communicated clearly to the authors.
  • Complaints:
    • Complaints regarding editorial processes, ethical concerns, or other issues should be directed to the journal’s editorial office.
    • Complaints will be handled promptly and transparently, with appropriate measures taken to address the issue.
    • If necessary, complaints may be escalated to the publisher or an independent ethics committee for resolution.
  • Confidentiality and Fairness: All appeals and complaints are treated confidentially and resolved impartially, ensuring fairness to all parties involved.

By adhering to these editorial policies, we strive to maintain the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing practices. For further inquiries, please contact our editorial office editorial@acadpub.com.