Guidelines for Reviewers

The International Journal of Theory and Application in Elementary and Secondary School Education (IJTAESE) recognizes peer review as an essential process for ensuring scientific quality, originality, and publication integrity. These guidelines follow the ethical principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Peer Review Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, confidential, and timely evaluations. Before accepting a review invitation, reviewers must ensure that they possess relevant expertise, can meet the review deadline, and have no conflicts of interest that may compromise impartiality.

Reviewers must maintain manuscript confidentiality, respect author anonymity where applicable, and must not disclose or use unpublished information for personal or professional advantage.

2. Manuscript Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers should assess manuscripts based on:

  1. Originality and Relevance: Contribution to educational theory, teaching practices, and elementary or secondary education.

  2. Research Design: Appropriateness of methodology, sampling, instruments, and analytical procedures.

  3. Results and Discussion: Accuracy of findings, interpretation, and engagement with relevant literature.

  4. Conclusions: Consistency with the findings, study limitations, and implications for educational practice.

  5. Research Ethics: Compliance with ethical approval, informed consent, participant confidentiality, and appropriate safeguards for research involving children and adolescents.

  6. Presentation: Clarity, organization, references, and adherence to relevant reporting standards.

3. Review Reports and Recommendations

Reviewers should provide clear, evidence-based comments highlighting manuscript strengths, major concerns, and specific recommendations for improvement.

Review reports should distinguish between major and minor revisions. Reviewers may recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection, but the final editorial decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief or designated editor.

4. Use of Artificial Intelligence in Peer Review

Reviewers must not upload confidential manuscripts, unpublished research data, tables, figures, or editorial correspondence to public generative AI platforms or unauthorized third-party systems.

AI-assisted tools may be used for limited purposes, such as improving the language and clarity of independently prepared review comments, provided manuscript confidentiality is preserved.

AI must not replace independent scientific judgment. Any substantive permitted use of generative AI must be disclosed to the editorial team, including the tool used and its purpose.

5. Ethical Conduct and Confidentiality

Reviewers must avoid discriminatory comments, personal criticism, inappropriate citation requests, and conflicts of interest. Suspected plagiarism, data fabrication, ethical violations, or other research misconduct must be reported confidentially to the Editor.

Confidentiality obligations remain applicable after the review process has concluded.

6. Review Submission

Reviewers must submit their evaluations through the IJTAESE online journal system within the agreed timeframe. Any anticipated delays or conflicts of interest should be communicated promptly to the editorial team.

7. Supporting References