Responsibilities of Reviewers

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Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the scholarly quality and integrity of the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies (JECS). Their expertise, objectivity, and professionalism ensure that published work meets the highest academic standards.

1. Confidentiality

  • Treat submitted manuscripts as strictly confidential documents. Do not disclose any information about the manuscript to anyone without the editor's approval.
  • Do not share the content of the manuscript, including the abstract, with anyone else. The double-blind peer review process requires confidentiality from both authors and reviewers.
  • If you wish to involve a colleague in the review process, you must obtain prior approval from the editorial office.

2. Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

  • Provide objective, constructive, and professional feedback aimed at improving the manuscript. Avoid personal criticism of the authors.
  • Focus on the scholarly content, methodology, and clarity of the work. Offer specific suggestions for improvement.

3. Conflicts of Interest

  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could compromise your impartiality.
  • Decline the review if such conflicts exist, including prior collaborations, close personal relationships, or institutional affiliations with the authors.

4. Detection of Ethical Issues

  • Notify the editorial team if you detect substantial similarity or overlap between the submitted manuscript and other published works.
  • Report any concerns regarding plagiarism, data fabrication, or other ethical violations.

5. Prohibition of AI Use in Reviewing

  • Confirm that you will not upload the author's manuscript to any third-party platforms or tools.
  • Do not use generative artificial intelligence tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or similar) to produce the reviewer report. The review must reflect your own expert judgment.

6. Timely Review

  • Complete your review within the timeframe specified by the editorial team (typically 4–6 weeks) to ensure a timely publication process.
  • If you are unable to meet the deadline, notify the editorial office promptly so that alternative arrangements can be made.

Reviewers are essential partners in maintaining the quality, integrity, and fairness of JECS's publication process.

Last updated: March 2026 • Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies (JECS)