PEER REVIEW POLICY

The Journal of Basrah Researches Sciences (JoBRS) is dedicated to publishing high-quality research in the fields of pure and applied sciences. To ensure the integrity, quality, and relevance of all published research, JoBRS adheres to a rigorous, fair, and transparent peer review process. This process is designed to provide constructive feedback to authors, enhance the quality of submissions, and maintain the highest standards of scientific excellence.

Double-Blind Peer Review Process

JoBRS follows a double-blind peer review system, ensuring that both the reviewers and the authors remain anonymous throughout the review process. This approach fosters objectivity and impartiality, ensuring that the evaluation of manuscripts is based solely on the quality and significance of the research, without any bias related to the identity, institution, or country of the authors.

Peer Review Workflow

  1. Initial Screening: Upon submission, each manuscript is first evaluated by the editorial team to ensure compliance with the journal’s scope and submission guidelines. A similarity check using tools like Turnitin is conducted to detect potential plagiarism. Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 20% are returned to the authors for revision.
  2. Assignment of Reviewers: Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to a minimum of three expert reviewers. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the relevant field, ensuring that the manuscript is evaluated by individuals with the necessary scientific knowledge.
  3. Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers are asked to assess the manuscript on the following key criteria:
    • Novelty and originality of the research
    • Scientific soundness and methodology
    • Relevance to the journal's scope
    • Clarity and quality of writing
    • Appropriateness of references and proper citation practices
    • Ethical compliance, especially for studies involving human or animal subjects
    • Interest and relevance for the journal’s readers
  4. Confidentiality: The peer review process is strictly confidential. Reviewers must treat the manuscript as a confidential document and must not discuss or share its contents with anyone outside the review process. All communications regarding the manuscript should be directed to the editorial office.
  5. Reviewer Recommendations: Based on their evaluation, reviewers are asked to provide one of the following recommendations:
    • Publish unaltered: The manuscript is accepted without any further changes.
    • Publish with minor revisions: The manuscript is accepted, provided the authors make minor corrections as per the reviewers' suggestions.
    • Publish with major revisions: The manuscript requires significant revisions before it can be considered for publication.
    • Reject: The manuscript does not meet the required standards for publication.
    Reviewers are encouraged to provide constructive feedback to authors, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript and offering suggestions for improvement.
  6. Final Decision: The final decision on whether to accept, revise, or reject the manuscript is made by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board, based on the reviewers’ recommendations. In cases where substantial revisions are required, the revised manuscript may be sent for a second round of review. The decision is communicated to the authors through the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform.

Timely Submission of Review Reports

To ensure the efficiency of the review process, reviewers are requested to submit their evaluations within 30 days. If additional time is required, the reviewer should notify the editorial team in advance. Timely reviews are essential for maintaining the journal’s publication schedule.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the high standards of JoBRS. Their responsibilities include:

  • Providing objective, constructive, and timely feedback to improve the manuscript.
  • Ensuring the confidentiality of the review process and the contents of the manuscript.
  • Disclosing any conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to provide an unbiased review.
  • Identifying any ethical issues, such as plagiarism, falsification of data, or unethical research practices, and reporting them to the editorial board.

Ethical Considerations

JoBRS is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards. Reviewers must ensure that:

  • The manuscript is original and unpublished.
  • The research complies with all ethical guidelines, particularly for studies involving human or animal subjects.
  • Proper citations are provided for all referenced work, and there is no excessive self-citation or citation manipulation.

Appeals and Queries

If authors disagree with the reviewers’ comments or a rejection decision, they may submit an appeal to the Editor-in-Chief. The appeal must include a detailed explanation addressing all concerns raised by the reviewers. The Editorial Board will review the appeal and may send the manuscript for re-evaluation if necessary.

For any questions regarding the peer review process, please contact the editorial office at bjrs@jobrs.edu.iq.

The peer review process at JoBRS ensures that published research is of the highest quality, scientifically sound, and relevant to the field. By adhering to a strict double-blind review system and promoting ethical research practices, JoBRS remains committed to advancing knowledge and maintaining academic excellence.