Editorial Process

The International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science (IJITSS) follows a structured editorial process to ensure the quality, integrity, and timeliness of published research. This process involves several key stages from manuscript submission to final publication, all designed to uphold the highest standards of academic rigor and ethical publication practices.

1. Manuscript Submission

  • Authors must submit their manuscripts through the journal’s online submission system.
  • The manuscript must comply with the Author Guidelines, including proper formatting, adherence to the journal’s Aims and Scope, and inclusion of necessary supporting documentation (e.g., ethical approval statements, conflict of interest disclosures).
  • Submissions that do not meet these requirements may be returned to the authors for revision before being processed further.

2. Initial Screening

  • After submission, the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editorial team member conducts an initial screening to determine whether the manuscript aligns with the journal’s Aims and Scope and meets basic quality standards.
  • Manuscripts may be rejected at this stage if they fall outside the journal’s scope or fail to meet minimum quality criteria (e.g., poor language quality or insufficient academic merit).
  • Manuscripts that pass the initial screening proceed to the next stage for plagiarism detection.

3. Plagiarism Check

  • All manuscripts undergo a plagiarism screening using dedicated software to ensure originality. IJITSS has a strict policy against plagiarism, and any submission found to contain substantial overlap with previously published work will be rejected or returned for revision.

4. Assignment to an Editor

  • If the manuscript passes the initial screening and plagiarism check, it is assigned to a Handling Editor with expertise in the relevant field of study. The Handling Editor is responsible for overseeing the peer review process.

5. Peer Review

  • IJITSS uses a double-blind peer review process, meaning that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review.
  • The Handling Editor assigns at least two independent reviewers who are experts in the field to evaluate the manuscript.
  • Reviewers assess the manuscript for:
    • Originality and contribution to the field.
    • Methodological rigor and validity of results.
    • Clarity, coherence, and organization.
    • Relevance to the journal’s scope and broader social science issues.
  • Reviewers provide detailed, constructive feedback to help authors improve the quality of their work.
  • Based on the reviewers’ reports, the Handling Editor makes an initial recommendation (e.g., accept, minor revisions, major revisions, or reject).

6. Author Revisions

  • If revisions are requested, authors are required to address the reviewers’ and/or editor’s comments and submit a revised manuscript within the timeframe specified by the Handling Editor.

  • A detailed response to reviewers should accompany the revised manuscript, explaining how the comments were addressed or providing a reasoned response where a suggested change was not made.

  • For major revisions, the revised manuscript may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation.

7. Final Decision

  • Following completion of the peer review process and, where applicable, any required revisions, the Editor-in-Chief or the Handling Editor makes the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of the manuscript.

  • Reviewer recommendations are advisory, and the final editorial decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief or the designated editor.

  • Authors are notified of the final decision and any additional requirements, if applicable.

8. Acceptance and Article Processing Charge (APC)

  • Once a manuscript has successfully completed the editorial process and has been formally accepted for publication, the corresponding author is issued an invoice for the applicable Article Processing Charge (APC).

  • The APC becomes payable only after formal acceptance and covers publication and post-acceptance services as described in the Journal’s Article Processing Charges (APC) Policy.

  • Payment may be made via Stripe or Bank Transfer.

  • Authors from countries classified as low-income economies by the World Bank may request an APC waiver in accordance with the Journal’s APC Policy.

  • Once payment has been successfully received, the accepted manuscript proceeds to the production and publication stages.

9. Copyediting and Proofreading

  • After acceptance, the manuscript is forwarded to the copyediting team for language polishing, formatting, and ensuring consistency with the journal’s style guidelines.
  • The manuscript is also checked for clarity, grammatical accuracy, and adherence to the APA 7th Edition referencing format.
  • Authors are sent a proof of the manuscript for review and approval before final publication. At this stage, authors are expected to check the accuracy of content, formatting, and references.
  • Any errors or changes identified during proofreading should be communicated promptly to the editorial team.

10. Production and Publication

  • Once the final proof is approved, the manuscript moves to the production stage for typesetting and layout.
  • The article is then published in the upcoming issue of IJITSS, in accordance with the journal’s quarterly publishing schedule.
  • The journal follows an Open Access model, ensuring that all articles are freely accessible to readers worldwide upon publication.

11. Continuous Communication

  • Throughout the editorial process, authors receive regular updates on the status of their manuscript.
  • Editors and reviewers maintain timely communication to ensure that the peer review process proceeds efficiently.
  • Any queries or concerns from the authors during the process are promptly addressed by the editorial office.