Peer Review process

 

International Journal of Policy Design and Administrative Studies follow a double-blind peer review process, ensuring fairness, transparency, and adherence to ethical standards (COPE). Below is a detailed step-by-step workflow:

Step 1: Submission

  • Authors submit their manuscript via the OJS submission portal.

  • Manuscripts must adhere to the Author Guidelines.

  • Authors complete the Submission Preparation Checklist, including copyright agreement and ethics confirmation.

Step 2: Initial Editorial Check

  • The Managing Editor or Editorial Office screens the submission for:

    • Formatting compliance

    • Completeness (all required sections: Abstract, Introduction, Methodology, Results & Discussion, Conclusion, References)

    • Plagiarism check using detection software

    • Ethical compliance (human/animal subjects, conflicts of interest)

  • Submissions that fail these checks are returned to authors for correction.

Step 3: Assignment to Editor-in-Chief / Associate Editor

  • The Editor-in-Chief assigns the manuscript to an Associate Editor with relevant subject expertise.

  • The Associate Editor evaluates the scope, originality, and suitability for International Journal of Policy Design and Administrative Studies.

Step 4: Reviewer Selection

  • The Associate Editor selects 2–3 independent peer reviewers.

  • Reviewers are chosen based on expertise, availability, and absence of conflicts of interest.

  • Authors may suggest potential reviewers, but the editorial team makes the final decision.

Step 5: Review Process (Double-Blind)

  • Reviewers receive the manuscript without author names or affiliations.

  • Reviewers evaluate:

    • Originality and significance of the research

    • Methodology and data quality

    • Clarity, organization, and APA compliance

    • Ethical compliance and proper citations

  • Reviewers submit detailed reports and recommendations: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.

  • Typical review time: 6–8 weeks.

Step 6: Editorial Decision

  • The Associate Editor evaluates reviewer reports and makes a recommendation to the Editor-in-Chief.

  • Possible outcomes:

    1. Accept – Manuscript meets all standards.

    2. Minor Revision – Small corrections needed; authors revise and resubmit.

    3. Major Revision – Substantial revisions required; may go through second round of review.

    4. Reject – Manuscript does not meet standards or scope.

  • Authors receive decision letters with reviewer comments.

Step 7: Revision by Authors

  • Authors address reviewer comments and resubmit revised manuscript via OJS.

  • Revisions should include a response letter explaining how each comment was addressed.

Step 8: Secondary Review (if required)

  • For major revisions, the revised manuscript may be sent back to original reviewers for evaluation.

  • Reviewer feedback informs the final editorial decision.

Step 9: Final Decision and Acceptance

  • The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision based on reviewer feedback and editorial assessment.

  • Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting, formatting, and publication.

Step 10: Publication

  • Authors pay the publication fee ($100 USD) if not waived.

  • Manuscript is assigned a DOI, formatted, and published online open access.

  • The article is indexed in DOAJ, Crossref, and other databases.

✅ Key Features of JGOSPC Peer Review:

  • Double-blind and ethical

  • Transparent and standardized

  • Constructive feedback for authors

  • Rigorous quality assurance before publication