Peer Review and Research Transparency Policies

Peer Review Process

IAPSS Politikon employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality and integrity of published research. All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the editorial team to assess their suitability for the journal's scope and adherence to formatting guidelines. Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are then sent to at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant field.

Reviewers are expected to provide unbiased, constructive, and timely feedback on the manuscript's strengths, weaknesses, and potential for improvement. They should assess the manuscript's originality, significance, methodological soundness, and clarity of presentation. Reviewers' identities are kept confidential, and they are not informed of the other reviewers' identities or feedback.

The editorial team considers the reviewers' reports and makes a decision on the manuscript's acceptance, revision, or rejection. Authors are provided with the reviewers' feedback and given the opportunity to address the comments and revise their manuscript accordingly. The revised manuscript may undergo additional rounds of peer review if deemed necessary by the editors.

Research Transparency

IAPSS Politikon is committed to promoting research transparency and reproducibility. Authors are encouraged to provide detailed information about their research methods, data collection, and analysis procedures to allow for replication and validation of their findings.

Authors should include a data availability statement in their manuscript, indicating whether the data underlying their research is publicly available and, if so, where it can be accessed. If the data cannot be made publicly available due to ethical, legal, or confidentiality constraints, authors should provide a clear explanation for this and describe any steps taken to ensure data integrity and reproducibility.

Instructions for Reviewers

  1. Maintain confidentiality: Do not share or discuss the manuscript with anyone without the explicit permission of the editor.
  2. Declare conflicts of interest: Inform the editor if you have any potential conflicts of interest, such as personal or professional relationships with the authors, that may influence your assessment.
  3. Provide constructive feedback: Offer clear, specific, and constructive comments on the manuscript's strengths and weaknesses, and suggest ways to improve the research and presentation.
  4. Assess originality and significance: Evaluate the manuscript's novelty, importance, and potential contribution to the field.
  5. Evaluate methodology: Assess the appropriateness and robustness of the research methods, data collection, and analysis procedures.
  6. Check for ethical compliance: Ensure that the research adheres to ethical guidelines and that any ethical concerns are addressed.
  7. Be timely: Complete your review within the specified timeframe or inform the editor if you require an extension.

Please find more detailed instructions here.

Editorial Process for Authors

  1. Submission: Submit your manuscript through the journal's online submission system, ensuring that it adheres to the journal's formatting and content guidelines.
  2. Initial screening: The editorial team will conduct an initial assessment of your manuscript to determine its suitability for the journal and adherence to guidelines.
  3. Peer review: If your manuscript passes the initial screening, it will be sent to at least two independent reviewers for double-blind peer review. Reviewers will provide feedback on your manuscript's strengths, weaknesses, and potential for improvement.
  4. Editorial decision: Based on the reviewers' reports, the editorial team will make a decision to accept, revise, or reject your manuscript. You will receive the reviewers' feedback and the editorial decision.
  5. Revision: If invited to revise your manuscript, address the reviewers' comments and submit a revised version along with a point-by-point response to the reviewers' feedback.
  6. Re-review: The revised manuscript may undergo additional rounds of peer review if deemed necessary by the editors.
  7. Acceptance and publication: If your manuscript is accepted for publication, you will receive further instructions regarding formatting, copyright, and proofing. Once the final version is approved, your article will be published in the journal.

Throughout the editorial process, you can contact the editorial office for updates on your manuscript's status and any questions you may have.

Last updated: 11 May 2024