Peer Review and Editorial Integrity

Peer Review and Editorial Integrity

At Unchained Intellect Press, we uphold the highest standards of peer review and editorial integrity to ensure the quality and credibility of our published scholarly work. Our peer review process is designed to be rigorous, fair, and transparent.

Detailed Peer Review Process

1. Manuscript Submission:

• Authors submit their manuscripts through our online submission system, including a declaration of potential conflicts of interest and adherence to ethical guidelines.

2. Initial Editorial Screening:

• The editorial team conducts an initial screening to assess the manuscript’s compliance with submission guidelines, scope, and relevance to the target audience. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria are returned to the authors without further review.

3. Assignment to Editors:

• Manuscripts passing the initial screening are assigned to an associate editor based on the subject and expertise. The associate editor oversees the review process and makes preliminary editorial decisions.

4. Selection of Reviewers:

• The associate editor selects a minimum of two external reviewers who are experts in the relevant field. Reviewers are chosen for their expertise, objectivity, and absence of conflicts of interest with the submitted work.

5. Conducting the Review:

• Reviewers are asked to evaluate the manuscript based on originality, methodological rigour, clarity of exposition, and significance to the field. They provide detailed comments and recommendations: accept as is, accept with minor revisions, accept with major revisions, or reject.

6. Editorial Decision-Making:

• Based on the reviewers’ comments and their judgment, the associate editor recommends an editorial decision to the Editor-in-Chief or a senior editor, who makes the final decision. Authors are provided with anonymized review comments.

7. Revision and Re-review:

• If revisions are required, authors are asked to revise their manuscripts and address the reviewers’ comments. Revised manuscripts may be sent back to the original reviewers or new reviewers for further assessment.

8. Final Decision and Publication:

• Once the manuscript meets all editorial and scientific standards, a final decision of acceptance is made, and the manuscript is moved forward to publication.

Ensuring Editorial Independence and Integrity

• Role and Responsibilities of Editors and Editorial Board Members:
  • Editors and editorial board members are responsible for maintaining the journal’s academic standards and integrity. They choose manuscripts solely based on academic merit and their fit with the journal’s scope.
  • They guide the peer review process, select reviewers, handle revisions, and ensure confidentiality.
• Independence in Peer Review:
  • Company owners and any other parties with potential vested interests are strictly excluded from editorial decisions to prevent any conflicts of interest.
  • The peer review process is conducted independently of the company’s commercial interests, and decisions to accept or reject a manuscript are based solely on the work’s scientific merit and integrity.
• Transparency and Accountability:
  • We commit to transparency in the editorial process and provide clear reasons for publication decisions. Our appeals process is open to authors who wish to contest editorial decisions, ensuring accountability in our editorial practices.