Peer Review Policy

Mission: The "Qualitative Research Journal for Social Studies" (QRJSS) is committed to publishing high-quality, original research that advances understanding of social issues and phenomena. This mission is supported by a rigorous, double-blind peer review process designed to ensure the scientific rigor, clarity, and relevance of published articles.

Principles:

  • Quality: Reviews should provide constructive feedback aimed at improving the overall quality of the manuscript.
  • Fairness: Reviews should be conducted objectively and with respect for the authors' work. Bias based on ethnicity, gender, nationality, or institutional affiliation should be avoided.
  • Anonymity: Both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.
  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential and refrain from sharing any information about the work with anyone outside the review process.
  • Timeliness: Reviews should be submitted within the designated timeframe to avoid delays in the publication process.

Review Process:

  • Initial Editor Screening: All manuscripts are initially screened by the editors for relevance to the journal's aims and scope, adherence to formatting guidelines, and originality.
  • Double-Blind Review: Manuscripts deemed suitable for review are sent to at least two external reviewers chosen based on their expertise in the relevant area of social studies and qualitative research. Reviewers are asked to assess the manuscript based on the following criteria:
    • Relevance and originality of the research question and contribution to the field
    • Theoretical grounding and methodological coherence
    • Quality of data collection and analysis
    • Clarity and organization of the writing
    • Ethical considerations
  • Decision-Making: Based on the reviewer feedback, the editor makes a final decision on the manuscript. Possible decisions include:
    • Accept for publication without revisions
    • Accept for publication with minor revisions
    • Accept for publication with major revisions
    • Reject
  • Author communication: Reviewers' comments are summarized and anonymized before being sent to the authors. Authors are encouraged to address reviewer concerns and submit a revised manuscript within a specified timeframe.

Reviewer Selection:

  • QRJSS maintains a pool of qualified reviewers with expertise in various areas of social studies and qualitative research methods.
  • Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the topic of the manuscript and their experience in conducting and reviewing qualitative research.
  • QRJSS strives to select reviewers from diverse backgrounds and institutions to ensure a range of perspectives in the review process.

Conflict of Interest:

  • Reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, such as personal or professional relationships with the authors or their institutions.
  • If a conflict of interest is identified, the reviewer will be recused from the review process.

Ethical Considerations:

  • Reviewers are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards in their conduct of the review process.
  • This includes avoiding plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification of information.
  • Reviewers should also be mindful of potential ethical issues in the research itself and raise these concerns to the editor, if necessary.