Editorial Guidelines

IJSSDR is dedicated to the advancement of interdisciplinary scholarship in social sciences and development studies. These editorial guidelines provide a transparent, ethical, and structured framework for authors, reviewers, and editors, ensuring that every manuscript is handled with academic integrity, fairness, and rigor throughout the editorial process.

1. Submission and Initial Evaluation

Scope and Relevance
Manuscripts must be original and align with the journal’s aims and scope, which include—but are not limited to—sociology, economics, political science, education, development studies, anthropology, and public policy research. Authors are encouraged to review the Aims & Scope before submission.

Plagiarism Screening
All submissions undergo mandatory plagiarism checks (e.g., Turnitin). IJSSDR enforces a 19% similarity threshold; manuscripts exceeding this may be returned or rejected without peer review.

Manuscript Format Requirements
Submissions must comply with Author Guidelines, including:

  • Title and Author Information
  • Abstract and Keywords
  • Structured body (IMRAD or appropriate structure)
  • Proper referencing (APA style, latest edition)
  • Tables, Figures, Ethical Statements, Acknowledgments

Licensing Terms
All accepted articles are published under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), permitting sharing with attribution but disallowing commercial use or modification.

2. Peer Review Policy

Double-Blind Review
IJSSDR uses a double-blind peer review process:

  • Reviewer and author identities remain confidential
  • Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers

Reviewer Selection & Ethics
Reviewers are chosen based on:

  • Subject-matter expertise
  • Research credentials
  • Absence of conflicts of interest

Confidentiality
All submitted materials are treated as confidential; unpublished data must not be used or disclosed.

Timeliness
Reviewers are expected to respond within 2–4 weeks, and editors ensure timely communication with authors.

3. Editorial Decision-Making

Possible Decisions
Decisions may include:
✅ Accept
✏️ Minor Revisions
✏️ Major Revisions
❌ Reject

Authors receive a formal decision letter with anonymized reviewer comments.

Revision and Resubmission

  • Submit revisions within the specified deadline
  • Provide a point-by-point response to reviewer comments

Appeals
Authors may appeal decisions by submitting a formal request, which is evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief and, if needed, an independent reviewer.

4. Ethical Standards and Responsibilities

Authorship Criteria
All listed authors must have contributed significantly. The corresponding author ensures co-author approval for submission.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence manuscript evaluation.

Research Ethics
Studies involving humans, surveys, interviews, or institutional data must include ethical approval and informed consent statements.

5. Post-Publication Policy

Corrections and Retractions
For serious errors or ethical violations, IJSSDR may issue:

  • Erratum (publisher-corrected errors)
  • Corrigendum (author-corrected errors)
  • Retraction (for invalid or unethical research)

All changes are clearly marked, transparent, and indexed.

Digital Archiving
All published content is archived to ensure long-term access and citation continuity. IJSSDR partners with secure repositories for preservation.

6. Editorial Board Responsibilities

Selection Criteria
Board members are selected for:

  • Subject expertise
  • Research credentials
  • Commitment to ethical publishing

Duties
Board members contribute to:

  • Peer review
  • Strategic development
  • Quality assurance and ethical governance

Rotation and Renewal
Board composition is periodically refreshed to maintain diversity and innovation.

7. Communication and Transparency

Author Support
The IJSSDR editorial office assists with:

  • Manuscript status inquiries
  • Submission procedures
  • Revisions and publication timelines

Professional Conduct
All interactions among authors, reviewers, and editors must be respectful, timely, and professional, fostering a collaborative academic environment.

By adhering to these editorial guidelines, IJSSDR ensures the publication of original, ethical, and impactful research that contributes meaningfully to social sciences and development studies worldwide.