Peer Review Process

 

The International Journal of Sport and Health Sciences (IJSHS) applies a rigorous, transparent, and fair peer review process to ensure the academic quality, originality, and integrity of all published articles. The journal follows internationally recognized standards of scholarly peer review and adheres to the principles and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

All manuscripts submitted to IJSHS undergo an initial editorial screening. During this stage, the editorial office evaluates the manuscript for relevance to the journal’s aims and scope, originality, ethical compliance, and overall academic quality. Manuscripts that do not meet these basic requirements may be rejected without external review.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are subjected to a double-blind peer review process, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed. Each manuscript is typically reviewed by at least two independent reviewers with appropriate expertise in sport sciences, physical health, mental health, or related interdisciplinary fields.

Reviewers are asked to assess manuscripts based on several criteria, including relevance to the journal’s scope, originality and contribution to the field, methodological rigor, clarity of presentation, ethical considerations, and the validity of the conclusions. Reviewers are expected to provide constructive and objective feedback to support the improvement of the manuscript.

Based on the reviewers’ reports, the handling editor will make one of the following editorial decisions: acceptance, minor revision, major revision, or rejection. Authors receiving revision decisions are required to respond to reviewers’ comments in a clear and systematic manner and to submit a revised manuscript within the specified timeframe. Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation when necessary.

The final decision regarding acceptance or rejection is made by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor. Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting and production prior to publication. While the journal aims to ensure a timely review process, editorial decisions are made based on academic merit rather than speed of publication.

Throughout the peer review process, IJSHS is committed to confidentiality, impartiality, and transparency. Reviewers must declare any potential conflicts of interest and treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. Allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism or unethical research practices, are handled in accordance with COPE guidelines.