Peer Review Process

Peer review is an essential part of scholarly publishing. It helps JTEK evaluate the originality, relevance, methodological quality, clarity, and scientific contribution of submitted manuscripts. Reviewers provide expert recommendations, while the editors remain responsible for all final publication decisions.

After submission, the editorial team verifies that the manuscript and supporting files are complete. The editor evaluates whether the manuscript:

Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements may be returned for correction or rejected before peer review.

Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial assessment may be screened using Turnitin or another appropriate similarity-detection service before being sent to reviewers. The recommended overall similarity level is 20% or less.

JTEK applies a double-anonymous peer-review process. The identities of the authors and reviewers are concealed during review. Authors must remove names, affiliations, acknowledgements, and other identifying information from the review manuscript.

The editor normally assigns at least two reviewers based on their expertise, independence, and relevance to the manuscript's subject. Reviewers must disclose any potential conflict of interest and maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript.

Reviewers independently evaluate the manuscript according to the following criteria:

Language editing is not the main purpose of peer review. However, reviewers may recommend language improvements when they affect clarity or scientific interpretation.

After evaluating the reviewer reports, the editor may issue one of the following decisions:

Authors must submit a revised manuscript together with a clear point-by-point response to reviewer and editor comments. Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers when additional expert evaluation is necessary.

The editor evaluates the revised manuscript, author responses, and reviewer recommendations before making the final decision. A second similarity screening is not required for every submission. It is performed only when substantial textual changes or other concerns require additional verification.

Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting and layout preparation. The corresponding author may be asked to review the article proof and confirm necessary production corrections. After final approval, the article is assigned to an issue and published online with its bibliographic information and digital identifier, where applicable.

Editors and reviewers must keep submitted manuscripts and related correspondence confidential. Unpublished materials may not be used for personal research or disclosed to other parties without authorization. Reviewers must provide objective, respectful, and evidence-based evaluations and declare any conflict of interest.

Researchers with relevant expertise who would like to contribute as JTEK reviewers are invited to contact the editorial team. Reviewing provides an opportunity to evaluate current research, support scholarly communication, and contribute to the quality and integrity of published scientific work.