Peer Review Policy

The International Journal of Social Sciences and Development Review (IJSSDR) follows a strict double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, credibility, and academic integrity of all published research. This process is designed to promote fairness, eliminate bias, and uphold international standards of scholarly publishing.

1. Review Model

IJSSDR operates a double-blind peer review system, in which:

  • The identity of the authors is not disclosed to reviewers
  • The identity of the reviewers is not disclosed to authors

This ensures that all manuscripts are evaluated purely on academic merit, originality, and scientific contribution.

2. Initial Editorial Screening

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial evaluation by the editorial team to assess:

  • Relevance to the journal’s scope in social sciences and development studies
  • Basic academic quality, structure, and formatting
  • Compliance with submission guidelines
  • Plagiarism and similarity index check

Manuscripts that do not meet the required standards may be rejected at the desk review stage without external peer review.

3. External Peer Review Process

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to two or more independent subject experts for detailed evaluation.

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on:

  • Originality and contribution to knowledge
  • Research design and methodological rigor
  • Accuracy of data analysis and interpretation
  • Relevance to social sciences and development themes
  • Clarity, coherence, and academic writing quality
  • Proper use of references and literature support

Based on the review reports, the editorial board makes one of the following decisions:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

4. Review Timeline

IJSSDR aims to maintain an efficient and timely publication process. The typical review timeline is:

  • 2 to 4 weeks for initial peer review feedback
  • Additional time may be required for author revisions and re-evaluation

5. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback
  • Maintain strict confidentiality of all manuscript content
  • Identify relevant missing citations or literature
  • Report any ethical concerns, plagiarism, or duplication
  • Disclose and avoid any conflicts of interest

6. Editorial Decision

Final publication decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief or assigned handling editor, based on reviewer recommendations and editorial assessment. The decision is final and aims to ensure fairness, quality, and academic integrity.

7. Confidentiality and Ethics

All manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Editors and reviewers are strictly prohibited from using any unpublished material for personal advantage or sharing it outside the review process.

8. Commitment to Fair and Ethical Review

IJSSDR is committed to ensuring that all manuscripts are evaluated fairly and without discrimination based on nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, or personal background. The journal promotes transparency, integrity, and academic excellence in all stages of the review process.