Reviewer’s Guide

This provides clear expectations and promotes consistency across all manuscript evaluations. Reviewers are asked to:

·       Confidentiality: Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and do not share or discuss them with others.

·       Objectivity: Provide fair, unbiased, and constructive feedback, avoiding personal or derogatory comments.

·       Evaluation Criteria: Assess manuscripts based on:

·       Significance of research question

·       Soundness of methodology and data analysis

·       Clarity and structure of the manuscript

·       Originality and contribution to the field

·       Compliance with ethical standards (e.g., human research approvals, conflict of interest declarations)

·       Constructive Feedback: Offer specific comments, suggestions for improvement, and clear reasoning for recommendations.

·       Timeliness: Submit reviews within the agreed timeframe (normally 2–4 weeks).

·       Conflict of Interest: Disclose any potential conflicts (personal, professional, or financial) that could affect objectivity.

·       Recommendation Categories:

·       Accept

·       Accept with minor revisions

·       Revise and resubmit (major revisions required)

·       Reject (with clear justification)