Peer Review Process

1. Manuscript Submission

  • Submission: Authors submit their manuscript through the JAR online submission system.
  • Initial Screening: The editorial office conducts an initial screening to ensure the manuscript meets the basic submission requirements (e.g., format, length, and adherence to submission guidelines).

2. Editor Assignment

  • Assignment: The Editor-in-Chief assigns the manuscript to an appropriate Associate Editor based on the manuscript’s subject area.
  • Preliminary Evaluation: The Associate Editor conducts a preliminary evaluation to determine if the manuscript fits the journal’s scope and meets basic quality standards. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be desk-rejected at this stage.

3. Peer Review

  • Reviewer Selection: The Associate Editor selects 2-3 experts in the field to review the manuscript. Reviewers are chosen based on their expertise, publication history, and availability.
  • Invitation to Reviewers: Reviewers are invited to review the manuscript. If they accept, they commit to completing the review within a specified time frame (typically 2-4 weeks).

4. Review Process

  • Review: Reviewers conduct a thorough evaluation of the manuscript, focusing on the following aspects:
    • Scope and relevance
    • Originality and contribution
    • Structure and organization
    • Methodology
    • Results and interpretation
    • References and citations
    • Language and presentation
  • Feedback: Reviewers provide detailed comments and recommendations. They can suggest:
    • Accept with minor or no revisions
    • Minor revisions
    • Major revisions
    • Reject

5. Editorial Decision

  • Review Synthesis: The Associate Editor reviews all the feedback from the reviewers and synthesizes their comments.
  • Decision Making: Based on the reviewers’ recommendations and their own assessment, the Associate Editor makes a decision:
    • Accept: The manuscript is accepted as is or with minor revisions.
    • Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor changes. Authors are given a set period to revise and resubmit.
    • Major Revisions: The manuscript requires substantial changes. Authors are given a set period to revise and resubmit.
    • Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication in its current form.

6. Author Revision

  • Revision: If revisions are requested, authors revise their manuscript according to the reviewers’ and editor’s comments and resubmit.
  • Resubmission: The revised manuscript is resubmitted through the online system and may undergo further review if necessary.

7. Final Decision

  • Final Review: The Associate Editor may send the revised manuscript back to the original reviewers or new reviewers for final evaluation.
  • Final Decision: After the final evaluation, the Associate Editor makes a recommendation to the Editor-in-Chief, who makes the final decision on acceptance or rejection.

8. Production and Publication

  • Copyediting: Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting to ensure clarity, consistency, and formatting.
  • Proofs: Authors review the proofs for final approval.
  • Publication: The manuscript is published in an upcoming issue of JAR and made available online.