Reviewer Guideline

Reviewer Guidelines for the International Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Applied Sciences (IJIMAS)

The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Applied Sciences (IJIMAS) follows a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the publication of high-quality, innovative, and impactful research. Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the journal's standards by providing objective and constructive feedback.

Registering as a Reviewer

To register as a reviewer in the IJIMAS system, please follow these steps:

  1. Create an Account: Go to the IJIMAS website (www.ijimas.com/index.php/pub/user/register) and register by filling in your details in the "Registration" section. Note: All users are initially registered as authors.
  2. Update Your Profile: Log in and navigate to the "My Profile" section. Click on the "Edit" button.
  3. Select Reviewer Role: Tick the "Reviewer" option under the Roles section, add keywords related to your expertise, and save the changes.
  4. Approval: Once your profile is approved by the Editor, you will be eligible to review manuscripts.

Duties of Reviewers

1. Evaluation

  • Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts solely based on their academic and scientific merit, irrespective of the authors' nationality, gender, or political beliefs.
  • Manuscripts must be reviewed objectively, and constructive feedback should be provided to improve the work.

2. Confidentiality

  • All information related to submitted manuscripts is confidential. Reviewers are prohibited from sharing or discussing manuscript details with anyone unless authorized by the Editor.

3. Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

  • Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest, including personal, financial, or professional connections with the authors or funders of the manuscript.
  • If a reviewer feels unqualified to review the manuscript or cannot meet the deadlines, they should notify the Editor immediately.

4. Contribution to the Editorial Process

  • Provide a detailed evaluation of the manuscript's strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
  • Assist the Editor in making informed decisions about the manuscript and guide authors on enhancing the quality of their submissions.

5. Objectivity

  • Ensure evaluations are unbiased and supported by appropriate reasoning.
  • Avoid personal criticism of the author and focus on the manuscript.

6. Acknowledgment of Sources

  • Identify relevant work that has not been cited and report any overlap or similarity with other published work to the Editor.

Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Timely Evaluation: Complete reviews within 30 days of receiving the manuscript. Extensions of 10 additional days may be granted upon request.
  • Plagiarism Monitoring: Notify the Editor of any suspected plagiarism, unethical practices, or research misconduct.
  • Suggestions for Improvement: Provide actionable feedback for the authors to refine their manuscript.
  • Recommendations: Recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection, supported by detailed reasoning.

Peer-Review Process at IJIMAS

1. Submission Screening

  • All submissions are checked for adherence to IJIMAS guidelines and scanned for plagiarism using Crossref Similarity Check, Turnitin, and iThenticate.
  • Manuscripts with a similarity rate above 15% or with over 4% similarity from a single source will be returned to the authors for revision.

2. Double-Blind Peer Review

  • Reviewers and authors remain anonymous during the review process to ensure impartiality.
  • Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two reviewers. If necessary, a third reviewer may be assigned.

3. Initial Editorial Review

  • The Editor-in-Chief evaluates manuscripts for originality, methodology, relevance to the journal’s scope, and compliance with ethical standards.
  • Manuscripts deemed unsuitable are promptly returned to the authors with suggestions for alternative publication avenues.

4. Detailed Review

  • Approved manuscripts are sent to reviewers with evaluation forms. Reviewers assess:
    • Originality and significance of the research.
    • Clarity and coherence of the abstract.
    • Appropriateness of the methodology.
    • Validity and relevance of findings.
    • Adequacy of citations and references.
    • Language and presentation quality.

5. Reviewer Reports

  • Reviewers must complete all sections of the evaluation form, including comments for the authors and confidential notes to the Editor.
  • Evaluations must include a minimum of 150 words and justify the reviewer’s recommendations.

6. Decision Making

  • Manuscripts require at least two positive reviews for acceptance. If there is a disagreement between two reviewers, a third reviewer is consulted.
  • The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision regarding publication.

7. Ethical Oversight

  • IJIMAS follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Suspected ethical violations are investigated thoroughly, and manuscripts under investigation are placed on hold.

Evaluation Workflow

  1. Receive Assignment: Reviewers receive an invitation to evaluate a manuscript.
  2. Access Manuscript: Log in to the system to access the manuscript and accompanying documents.
  3. Accept or Decline: Confirm or decline the review assignment within 3 days.
  4. Review Submission: Provide detailed feedback using the evaluation form and submit your recommendation.
  5. Decision Notification: The Editor will notify you of the final decision.

Plagiarism Policy

  • All manuscripts undergo a rigorous plagiarism check using industry-standard software.
  • Authors are required to submit their own similarity report during submission.
  • If a manuscript is found to have a high similarity rate or contains uncited material, it will be returned to the author for revision.
  • In cases of third-party claims of copyright infringement or plagiarism, the publication process will be halted until the matter is resolved. IJIMAS disclaims responsibility for any copyright violations; accountability lies with the authors.

Reviewer Ethics

  • Maintain confidentiality throughout the review process.
  • Refrain from sharing or discussing the manuscript with unauthorized parties.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest.
  • Review manuscripts objectively and provide clear, constructive feedback.

Contact Information

For assistance or inquiries regarding the reviewer process, contact:
E-mail: editor@ijimas.com

Download - Reviewer Response Letter Template for IJIMAS Authors

Download - Manuscript Life Cycle