Peer Review Policy
Peer Review Policy – Wah Academia Journal of Social Sciences (WAJSS)
The Wah Academia Journal of Social Sciences (WAJSS) is committed to maintaining rigorous, fair, and transparent peer-review practices, through a transparent double-blind peer review process, to ensure the quality, integrity, and academic value of published research.
All submitted manuscripts undergo a structured peer-review process in accordance with international best practices and the ethical guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Type of Peer Review
WAJSS operates a double-blind peer-review system, in which:
- The identities of authors are concealed from reviewers
- The identities of reviewers are concealed from authors
This approach ensures impartial evaluation and minimizes potential bias.
Initial Editorial Assessment
Upon submission, each manuscript is first assessed by the editorial office to determine:
- Relevance to the journal’s aims and scope
- Compliance with submission guidelines
- Originality and academic quality
- Plagiarism screening
Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected without external review.
Reviewer Selection
Manuscripts passing the initial assessment are assigned to at least two independent reviewers who:
- Possess relevant subject expertise
- Have no conflicts of interest
- Are not affiliated with the authors’ institutions
- They are not in the editorial board of the journal
Reviewers are selected based on academic qualifications, publication record, and professional experience.
Review Process
Reviewers are requested to evaluate manuscripts based on:
- Originality and contribution to knowledge
- Methodological rigor
- Theoretical and analytical soundness
- Clarity and organization
- Ethical compliance
- Quality of references and citations
Reviewers provide detailed, constructive, and evidence-based feedback to support scholarly improvement.
Review Timeline
The journal aims to maintain efficient review procedures:
- Initial screening: Within 7–14 days
- Peer review: Within 6–8 weeks
Timelines may vary depending on reviewer availability and manuscript complexity.
Editorial Decision-Making
Based on reviewer reports, editors may reach one of the following decisions:
- Accept without revision
- Accept with minor revisions
- Revise and resubmit
- Reject
Final publication decisions rest with the Editor-in-Chief and are based solely on academic merit and reviewer recommendations.
Commercial, institutional, or personal interests do not influence editorial decisions.
Confidentiality
All manuscripts and review materials are treated as confidential documents.
Reviewers and editors must not:
- Share manuscripts with third parties
- Use unpublished material for personal research
- Disclose review content
Confidentiality is maintained throughout and after the review process.
Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including:
- Institutional affiliations
- Financial relationships
- Personal connections
- Competitive research interests
Individuals with conflicts are excluded from the review process
Reviewer Ethics and Responsibilities
Reviewers are expected to:
- Conduct reviews objectively and professionally
- Respect submission deadlines
- Provide unbiased and respectful feedback
- Identify potential ethical concerns
- Report suspected misconduct
All reviewers are required to follow COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers: https://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines/cope-ethical-guidelines-peer-reviewers
Handling of Ethical Concerns
If ethical issues arise during peer review, including plagiarism, data manipulation, or authorship disputes, editors follow COPE procedures and flowcharts: https://publicationethics.org/guidance/Flowcharts
Appropriate actions may include investigation, revision requests, rejection, or notification of relevant institutions.
Appeals and Complaints
Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written request with supporting justification.
Appeals are reviewed by senior editors not involved in the original decision. Complaints are handled transparently and in accordance with COPE recommendations.
Transparency and Accountability
WAJSS is committed to transparency in peer review and regularly reviews its procedures to ensure compliance with international standards.
The journal’s peer-review practices align with DOAJ Principles of Transparency: https://doaj.org/apply/guide/
Continuous Improvement
The peer-review system is periodically evaluated to improve efficiency, reviewer performance, and editorial quality.
Feedback from authors, reviewers, and editors is used to strengthen editorial processes.
