Double-Blind Peer Review at IRSR
The International Review of Social Research is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity through a rigorous double-blind peer review process. This ensures that all published articles meet the standards expected of scholarly social science research.
How the Process Works
1. Initial Screening
Upon submission, the editorial team conducts an initial assessment to ensure the manuscript falls within the journal’s scope and meets basic formatting requirements. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be returned to authors with guidance for revision.
2. Double-Blind Review
Manuscripts that pass initial screening are anonymised and sent to at least two independent reviewers who are experts in the relevant field. The identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential throughout the process.
3. Reviewer Assessment
Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on:
- Originality and contribution to the field
- Theoretical rigour and conceptual clarity
- Methodological soundness
- Quality of writing and presentation
- Relevance of findings and implications
4. Editorial Decision
Based on reviewer recommendations, the editor-in-chief makes one of four decisions:
- Accept — Manuscript is accepted for publication as submitted
- Minor Revisions — Small changes required before acceptance
- Major Revisions — Substantial revisions needed; manuscript will be re-reviewed
- Reject — Manuscript does not meet publication standards
5. Publication
Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting and formatting before publication in the next available issue.
Timeline
We aim to complete the review process within 8-12 weeks of initial submission.