Peer Review Process
An incoming paper is at first screened by the editor, often in consultation with member(s) of the editorial board. If a problem appears, the editor will typically aim to provide the author(s) with advice on what seems to be necessary to change in order to make the paper suitable for a review, and eventual printing.
Papers which have passed such an initial screening are reviewed by an associate editor who also acts as an internal referee and may at times coordinate the review process that typically involves at least two external referees.
Based on the reports from referees (double-blind reviewing), the editor will make a decision, with one of the following possible results:
- to approve the article for printing as submitted (with no changes needed);
- to approve the article conditionally, after suggested (relatively minor) revisions are being made;
- to reject the article in the submitted form, but encourage the author(s) to re-submit a revised (rewritten) version of it for a future refereeing cycle; however, no promise is being made about the future acceptance of the revised paper unless it successfully passes a new refereeing cycle;
- to reject the article (as either not qualified or out of the scope of the journal).
The editor’s decision concerning the paper is mailed to the author directly after completing the refereeing process. Also, a copy of the anonymized reports from the referees is attached to such letter.
