Peer Review Process and Policy

Peer Review Process

The SUKISOK Journal of the Arts and Sciences (SJAS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic rigor and integrity through a double-blind peer review process.

  1. Initial Screening – All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial review to ensure alignment with the journal’s scope, compliance with formatting and authorship policies, and a similarity check (≤ 15%). Submissions that do not meet these requirements are returned to the author for correction or rejected outright.
  2. Reviewer Selection – Each manuscript is assigned to an Associate Editor, who invites at least two qualified reviewers with subject matter expertise. Reviewers are chosen based on disciplinary fit, independence, and scholarly credentials. Authors may suggest potential reviewers, but the Editorial Board makes the final selection.
  3. Double-Blind Review – Reviewer and author identities remain confidential throughout the process. Reviewers are expected to provide fair, objective, and constructive evaluations using the official Journal Article Review Form. Reviews focus on originality, methodological soundness, clarity of presentation, adherence to ethical standards, and the manuscript’s overall contribution to the field.
  4. Review Timeline – Reviewers confirm acceptance of the invitation within five (5) days and submit their evaluation within two (2) weeks. Extensions may be granted upon request.
  5. Editorial Decision – Based on reviewers’ recommendations, the Editorial Board issues one of the following decisions: Accept; Accept with Minor Revisions; Revise and Resubmit (Major Revisions); and, Reject.
  6. Author Revision – Authors are required to submit revised manuscripts and a point-by-point response letter within the prescribed timeframe (1–2 weeks).
  7. Final Review & Acceptance – Revised manuscripts are re-assessed by the editors (and, if necessary, reviewers) before a final decision is made by the Chief Editor.
  8. Post-Acceptance Processing – Accepted manuscripts proceed to copy-editing, layout, proof approval, and online publication with DOI assignment.

SJAS follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and the ICMJE recommendations, ensuring transparency, accountability, and scholarly integrity throughout the peer review process.

Editorial Decision

  • The editorial board will make the final decision on the acceptance, revision, or rejection of a manuscript based on reviewer recommendations.
  • Authors will be notified of the decision along with reviewer comments and recommendations for revisions, if applicable.

Confidentiality and Ethical Standards

  • All manuscripts under review are treated as confidential documents.
  • Reviewers must not share, cite, or use any part of the manuscript for personal advantage.
  • Reviewers and editors must declare any conflict of interest that could affect their objectivity.
  • The journal follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers.

Misconduct and Appeals

If misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data falsification, unethical citation manipulation) is detected during peer review, the manuscript will be immediately suspended pending investigation. Authors may submit a formal appeal against editorial decisions following the journal’s Complaint and Appeal Policy.

Continuous Improvement

The SUKISOK Journal of the Arts and Sciences regularly evaluates its peer review process to ensure transparency, efficiency, and alignment with international publishing standards. Reviewer feedback and performance are periodically reviewed to maintain a high-quality evaluation process.

Reviewer Recognition and Partnership with ReviewerCredits

The SUKISOK Journal of the Arts and Sciences recognizes that peer reviewers play an essential role in maintaining the quality and integrity of scholarly publishing. To formally acknowledge their valuable contributions, the journal is a member of ReviewerCredits, an international platform that certifies, records, and rewards peer review activities.

Through ReviewerCredits, reviewers gain access to a professional system that:

  • Certifies completed peer reviews, providing verified proof of reviewing activity;
  • Awards credit points for each review, which can be redeemed for various professional services; and
  • Offers training and certification modules to enhance reviewers’ skills and understanding of ethical peer review practices.

ReviewerCredits also provides reviewers with a personalized online profile and certificate that summarize all verified reviews, training courses, and achievements. These certificates can be shared with institutions, colleagues, or on professional platforms such as LinkedIn.

By partnering with ReviewerCredits, the SUKISOK Journal of the Arts and Sciences ensures that its peer reviewers are not only acknowledged but also supported in their continued professional development.

For more information or to create a free reviewer account, visit www.reviewercredits.com.