Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers
As a guardian of scholarly integrity at Digital Evolution Journal, your adherence to these ethical guidelines is paramount. They are designed to ensure a fair, confidential, and high-quality peer review process, reflecting the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Confidentiality and Anonymity
All manuscripts and supplementary materials are privileged communications. By accepting a review invitation, you agree to:
- Treat the manuscript as a confidential document. Do not disclose any information to third parties without prior permission from the editor.
- Not use information from the manuscript for your own research or personal advantage before its publication.
- Destroy all copies of the manuscript and supplementary materials after submitting your review.
- Not attempt to identify the authors. Our double-blind process is designed to ensure anonymity for both authors and reviewers.
Objectivity and Impartiality
Your review must be a fair and impartial assessment of the manuscript's scientific merit. Please ensure that you:
- Provide a balanced, constructive, and evidence-based critique.
- Avoid personal attacks, inflammatory language, or unsubstantiated accusations. Your feedback should be professional and respectful.
- Evaluate the manuscript based on its academic and scientific content, without regard to the authors' gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or institutional affiliation.
- Clearly support your recommendation (accept, revise, or reject) with detailed comments and arguments.
Managing Conflicts of Interest
You must declare any potential conflicts of interest that could compromise your objectivity. If you are unsure, please contact the editorial office. Examples of conflicts include:
- Direct Competition: You are working on a very similar project or are in direct competition with the authors.
- Recent Collaboration: You have co-authored a publication with one of the authors in the last 3 years.
- Financial Interest: You have a financial stake in the outcome of the research.
- Personal Relationship: You have a close personal or professional relationship with one of the authors.
If a conflict of interest exists, you must decline the review invitation.
Timeliness and Diligence
Timely reviews are crucial for the publication process. Please:
- Submit your review within the agreed-upon deadline. If you need an extension, please contact the editorial office as soon as possible.
- Dedicate sufficient time to thoroughly read and evaluate the manuscript.
- Provide a comprehensive review that addresses all aspects of the manuscript, including its strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for improvement.
Suspected Misconduct
If you suspect plagiarism, data fabrication, or any other ethical misconduct, please report your concerns confidentially to the editor. Do not address these issues in your comments to the author.