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:
- 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.
- Update Your Profile: Log in and navigate to the "My Profile" section. Click on the "Edit" button.
- Select Reviewer Role: Tick the "Reviewer" option under the Roles section, add keywords related to your expertise, and save the changes.
- 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
- Receive Assignment: Reviewers receive an invitation to evaluate a manuscript.
- Access Manuscript: Log in to the system to access the manuscript and accompanying documents.
- Accept or Decline: Confirm or decline the review assignment within 3 days.
- Review Submission: Provide detailed feedback using the evaluation form and submit your recommendation.
- 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