Peer-review

Peer review

Our unique peer review process gives you the chance to submit your research for a rigorous, transparent, and constructive review by experts in your field.

Since 2014, we have been working with the research community to refine our submission process, putting quality and community at the heart of what we offer.

Each manuscript submitted to the IJBMC journal undergoes a series of research integrity assessments before peer review, multiple checkpoints during review, and a final validation before publication.

What happens when you submit your manuscript?

Principles of Peer Review

Overview of Peer Review Standards The International Journal of Body, Mind and Culture (IJBMC) upholds stringent quality standards for manuscript review and publication through clearly defined criteria and a structured peer review process. Manuscripts are evaluated on their scholarly merit, and those meeting the journal’s standards are accepted, while those failing to meet these standards are rejected.

Importantly, manuscripts are not judged based on perceived potential impact or subject to predetermined rejection rates. Instead, the peer review process prioritizes the validity, scientific rigor, and ethical integrity of submissions. Editorial decisions are overseen by handling editors, reviewers, and chief editors, ensuring a collaborative and transparent process.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Authors: Authors are responsible for submitting manuscripts with significant scholarly value that align with the journal’s scope. Submissions must adhere to ethical guidelines, demonstrate rigorous methodology, and respond constructively to feedback from reviewers and editors.

2. Reviewers: Reviewers are subject-matter experts who evaluate manuscripts for methodological rigor, scientific validity, and ethical compliance. Using standardized assessment tools, reviewers provide constructive feedback and ensure research conclusions are well-supported.

3. Editors: Editors manage the peer review process and make publication decisions. They ensure that reviewer feedback aligns with the journal’s quality standards and facilitate constructive interactions between authors and reviewers.

4. Chief Editors: Chief editors oversee editorial integrity and have the authority to accept or reject manuscripts based on comprehensive evaluations of reviewer and editor recommendations.

5. Peer Review Team: The peer review team supports all participants, ensuring adherence to quality standards, fostering collaboration, and addressing concerns during the review process. Specialized sub-teams handle research integrity and editorial operations.

Manuscript Quality Standards

Acceptance Criteria

Manuscripts accepted by IJBMC must meet the following criteria:

• Validity: The research must address a well-defined question or hypothesis grounded in relevant theory.

• Methodological Rigor: Study design, methodology, and data presentation must be transparent and robust.

• Clarity: Language, figures, and tables must meet scientific norms and be free of errors.

• Ethical Compliance: Submissions must adhere to ethical research practices, including privacy protection and ethical review approvals.

• Literature Integration: Manuscripts must be thoroughly referenced, reflecting the current state of knowledge.

Rejection Criteria

Submissions may be rejected at any stage for reasons including, but not limited to:

• Invalid research questions or flawed hypotheses.

• Methodological errors or data integrity concerns.

• Non-compliance with ethical standards or duplication of previous work.

• Poor language quality hindering review.

• Biased or inadequate referencing.

• Pseudoscientific content or conclusions posing public health risks.

Peer Review Process The IJBMC employs a two-phase collaborative review process:

1. Independent Review Phase: Reviewers independently evaluate the manuscript using standardized templates, focusing on scientific rigor and validity. Recommendations are submitted to the handling editor.

2. Interactive Review Phase: Authors engage with reviewers through a collaborative forum to address feedback. Handling editors mediate discussions and ensure constructive interactions.

Final Validation After the interactive review, the manuscript undergoes final validation by the editorial board. Quality checks ensure compliance with peer review standards before publication.

Arbitration and Disputes Authors or reviewers may trigger arbitration in case of disputes regarding manuscript decisions. The arbitration process involves comprehensive evaluation by the editorial office or independent experts to ensure fairness and adherence to journal policies.

Conclusion The IJBMC’s peer review framework is designed to uphold the highest standards of scientific quality, ethical integrity, and collaborative engagement, fostering the dissemination of impactful and credible research.