Action Algorithm for Prospective Reviewers

Prospective reviewers should ensure that they are able to contribute independent scholarly assessment within their areas of expertise.

Reviewer participation is based on:

• relevant scholarly and/or methodological expertise;
• independence from the authors and the manuscript;
• absence of material conflicts of interest;
• ability to provide a reasoned, objective, and constructive assessment;
• ability to maintain confidentiality;
• compliance with the Journal’s reviewer ethics and peer-review requirements;
• ability to complete a manuscript-specific review within the applicable timeframe where an invitation is accepted.

A particular academic degree is not treated as an automatic or universal condition for reviewer participation. Scholarly suitability is assessed in relation to the expertise required for potential review assignments.

Before submitting an application, prospective reviewers should familiarise themselves with the Journal’s reviewer framework.

Applicants are expected to review:

• Guidelines for Reviewers ;
• Review Ethics ;
• Peer Review Process ;
• other applicable Journal policies and procedures relevant to reviewer responsibilities.

These documents establish the principles governing reviewer independence, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, scholarly assessment, ethical conduct, and manuscript-specific peer review.

Related: Guidelines for Reviewers · Review Ethics · Peer Review Process

Prospective reviewers should prepare the materials required for consideration for inclusion in the reviewer pool.

The application package consists of:

• a completed and signed Reviewer Application Form;
• an up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• supporting academic or professional documents, where applicable.

Supporting documents may be provided where they are relevant to the assessment of the applicant’s scholarly or professional expertise.

The Reviewer Application Form and the online submission form are separate instruments.

The Reviewer Application Form is the official document completed and signed by the applicant.

The APPLICATION FOR JOINING form is the online submission interface used to transmit the application materials to the Journal.

The completed Reviewer Application Form, Curriculum Vitae, and applicable supporting documents should be submitted through the APPLICATION FOR JOINING form provided on the Journal website.

The online form functions as the submission interface through which prospective reviewers upload the completed application and accompanying documents.

Multiple supporting files may be uploaded in the formats accepted by the submission form.

Submission of an application does not automatically result in inclusion in the reviewer pool.

Related: Become a Reviewer

Reviewer applications are considered individually.

The Editorial Office may perform an administrative review of the submitted materials, including verification of:

• completeness of the application;
• contact information;
• availability of the required application documents;
• supporting documentation, where applicable.

Where necessary, additional information or clarification may be requested from the applicant.

Scholarly suitability for potential reviewer participation is assessed separately from the administrative review and takes into account the applicant’s relevant expertise, methodological competence, academic or professional experience, and suitability for independent scholarly assessment.

Assessment of an application does not constitute appointment to review any particular manuscript.

Following assessment, an applicant may be approved for inclusion in the Journal’s internal reviewer pool.

The reviewer pool is an internal administrative resource used to identify potential independent reviewers for future manuscript-specific invitations.

Inclusion in the reviewer pool:

• does not establish membership in a permanent collegiate body of reviewers;
• does not create an obligation for the Journal to assign manuscripts;
• does not create an obligation for the reviewer to accept future invitations;
• does not guarantee any minimum number or frequency of review assignments;
• does not itself constitute appointment to review a manuscript.

Applicants may be informed of the outcome of their application using the contact details provided during submission.

Inclusion in the reviewer pool and appointment to review a specific manuscript are separate stages.

For each manuscript, potential reviewers are selected or approved in accordance with the Journal’s Editorial Policies and Peer Review Process.

Manuscript-specific reviewer selection takes into account:

• relevant subject expertise;
• methodological suitability;
• independence;
• absence of material conflicts of interest;
• availability to complete the review within the applicable timeframe.

A prospective reviewer becomes involved in the review of a particular manuscript only after receiving and accepting a manuscript-specific invitation.

Before accepting an invitation, the reviewer should consider whether they:

• possess the necessary expertise;
• can provide an independent assessment;
• have no material conflict of interest;
• can maintain confidentiality;
• can complete the review within the applicable timeframe.

Where any of these conditions cannot be met, the reviewer should decline the invitation or promptly inform the Journal.

Related: Peer Review Process · Editorial Policies · Review Ethics

Once a manuscript-specific invitation has been accepted, the reviewer is expected to conduct the review in accordance with the Journal’s applicable reviewer requirements.

The reviewer should:

• provide an objective, reasoned, and constructive scholarly assessment;
• evaluate the manuscript only within the reviewer’s relevant areas of expertise;
• maintain confidentiality throughout the review process;
• disclose any relevant conflict of interest that becomes apparent;
• avoid using confidential manuscript information for personal or professional advantage;
• comply with the Journal’s requirements concerning the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies;
• submit the review within the timeframe communicated for the specific manuscript;
• follow the applicable Guidelines for Reviewers, Review Ethics, and Peer Review Process.

The review recommendation contributes to the editorial assessment of the manuscript but does not itself constitute the Journal’s final editorial decision.

Related: Guidelines for Reviewers · Review Ethics · Peer Review Process · Editorial Policies