Peer Review Process

Peer Review Process

The Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences (GJNS) employs a structured, rigorous, and ethically grounded peer review process to uphold the highest standards of scientific quality, integrity, and relevance.

GJNS utilizes a double-blind peer review model, ensuring that neither authors nor reviewers are aware of each other’s identities. This approach safeguards impartiality, promotes fair evaluation, and reinforces the journal’s credibility as a respected academic platform.

Aligned with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and international best practices, our process is transparent, timely, and supportive of author development.

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Overview of the Peer Review Process

The GJNS peer review workflow consists of five main phases with clearly defined steps and timelines:

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Phase 1: Initial Editorial Screening

Step 1: Submission Receipt and Acknowledgment

  • Authors receive an acknowledgment email within 3 working days of submission.

Step 2: Preliminary Check

The editorial team screens for:
✅ Alignment with GJNS’s scope and objectives
✅ Compliance with submission guidelines (formatting, referencing, word limits)
✅ Originality using Turnitin plagiarism detection software (acceptable similarity index ≤15%)
✅ Ethical compliance (e.g., ethics approval for studies involving humans/animals)

Step 3: Editorial Decision

  • Manuscripts failing the preliminary check are returned for correction or desk-rejected.

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Phase 2: Reviewer Assignment

Step 4: Reviewer Selection

  • Two or more reviewers with subject expertise are assigned from GJNS’s international reviewer panel.
  • Reviewer diversity (geographic and disciplinary) is prioritized to ensure balanced evaluations.

Step 5: Conflict of Interest Check

  • Reviewers declare any conflicts of interest before accepting the assignment.

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Phase 3: Double-Blind Peer Review

Step 6: Review Process

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on:
✅ Originality and contribution to scientific knowledge
✅ Methodological rigor and soundness
✅ Data integrity and statistical validity
✅ Clarity of presentation and logical structure
✅ Adherence to ethical standards (human/animal studies, data privacy)
✅ Relevance to regional and global scientific discourse

Step 7: Reviewer Recommendations

Each reviewer submits one of the following recommendations:

  • Accept without revision
  • Accept with minor revisions
  • Revise and resubmit (major revisions)
  • Reject

Step 8: Consolidation of Reviews

  • The editor synthesizes reviewers’ comments and sends a decision letter to the author within 3–5 weeks of submission.

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Phase 4: Author Revisions and Secondary Review

Step 9: Author Revisions

  • Authors address reviewer comments point-by-point and resubmit within 2–4 weeks.
  • Revised manuscripts may undergo secondary review if required.

Step 10: Final Editorial Decision

  • Based on revisions and reviewer feedback, the editor decides:
       a. Accept for publication
       b. Reject if requirements remain unmet

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Phase 5: Copyediting, Proofreading, and Publication

Step 11: Professional Copyediting

  • Manuscripts undergo grammar, formatting, and consistency checks.

Step 12: Author Proof Approval

  • Authors review page proofs for final approval.

Step 13: Online Publication

  • Accepted manuscripts are published with DOIs (via CrossRef) for permanent citation.

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Confidentiality and Ethical Standards

  • All manuscripts and reviews are treated with strict confidentiality.
  • Reviewers must not use or share manuscript content prior to publication.
  • GJNS complies fully with COPE Ethical Guidelines and respects Afghan cultural values and Islamic principles.

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Timeline Summary

Stage

Estimated Duration

Initial Editorial Screening

3–5 days

Reviewer Assignment

2–3 days

Peer Review

2–3 weeks

Author Revisions

2–4 weeks

Final Decision & Editing

5–7 days

Total Time to Decision

5–7 weeks (35–50 days)

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Reviewer Recognition

GJNS values the contributions of its reviewers and offers:
✅ Certificates of Reviewership
✅ ORCID credit for reviews
✅ Annual recognition for outstanding reviewers

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Value Additions and Future Enhancements

✅ Open Peer Review Option (Optional) – For transparency in the evaluation process.
✅ AI-Assisted Reviewer Matching – Leveraging AI tools for faster reviewer identification.
✅ Reviewer Guidelines and Training Modules – Supporting reviewers in providing constructive feedback.
✅ Real-Time Peer Review Tracking Dashboard – For authors to monitor manuscript progress.

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Contact for Peer Review Queries

Email: [Insert official GJNS editorial email]
CC: rpashtoon@hotmail.com
Editorial Office – Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences, Kandahar University