Reviewer Guidance

Review Guidelines

Thank you for agreeing to review a manuscript for the Journal of Innovative Technologies in Learning and Education (J-ITLE). Your expertise is vital to maintaining the high standards of our journal. Please use the following guidelines to assess the manuscript:

1. General Principles

  • Confidentiality: Treat the manuscript as a confidential document. Do not share it with others or discuss its content outside of the review process.
  • Objectivity: Provide objective, constructive, and unbiased feedback. Avoid personal comments or criticisms.
  • Timeliness: Complete the review within the agreed timeframe. If you are unable to meet the deadline, please inform the editorial office as soon as possible.

2. Manuscript Evaluation Criteria

When reviewing the manuscript, please consider the following aspects:

  1. Originality and Contribution to the Field:

    • Does the manuscript present new insights, concepts, or methods?
    • Does it make a significant contribution to the field of educational technology and learning?

  2. Title and Abstract:

    • Is the title clear, concise, and reflective of the content?
    • Does the abstract accurately summarize the key points of the manuscript?

  3. Introduction and Literature Review:

    • Does the introduction clearly state the research question or problem?
    • Is the literature review comprehensive and up-to-date?
    • Does the manuscript identify gaps in the existing research that the study addresses?

  4. Methodology:

    • Is the research design appropriate for the study's objectives?
    • Are the methods and procedures clearly described and replicable?
    • Are the data collection and analysis techniques sound and valid?

  5. Results:

    • Are the results clearly presented and logically organized?
    • Are the findings supported by the data?
    • Are figures, tables, and other visual aids used effectively?

  6. Discussion and Conclusion:

    • Does the discussion provide meaningful interpretation of the results?
    • Are the implications for theory, practice, and future research clearly articulated?
    • Does the conclusion effectively summarize the key findings and contributions of the study?

  7. References:

    • Are the references relevant, current, and properly cited?
    • Does the manuscript adhere to the APA (7th edition) citation style?

  8. Language and Style:

    • Is the manuscript well-written, clear, and free of grammatical errors?
    • Is the use of technical language appropriate for the target audience?

3. Reviewer’s Recommendations

Based on your evaluation, please recommend one of the following actions:

  • Accept: The manuscript is suitable for publication with no or very minor revisions.
  • Minor Revision: The manuscript requires small changes before it can be accepted.
  • Major Revision: Significant revisions are needed before the manuscript can be reconsidered for publication.
  • Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication due to significant flaws in research, methodology, or writing.

4. Providing Feedback

  • Specific Comments: Provide detailed feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript. Where possible, suggest improvements.
  • General Comments: Offer a summary of your assessment, highlighting key points that the authors should address.
  • Tone: Ensure your comments are respectful and supportive, aimed at helping the authors improve their work.

5. Ethical Considerations

  • Conflict of Interest: If you have any conflict of interest regarding the manuscript (e.g., relationships with the authors, financial interests), please inform the editorial office immediately.
  • Ethical Concerns: If you identify any ethical issues (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication), report them to the editorial office.

Competing Interests Policy

1. Definition of Competing Interests Competing interests (also known as conflicts of interest) arise when an individual’s personal, financial, or professional relationships may affect, or be perceived to affect, their impartiality in the publication process. This can include:

  • Financial interests: Ownership of stocks or shares, paid employment or consultancy, grants, funding, honoraria, patents, or royalties.
  • Personal interests: Relationships with family, friends, or organizations that could benefit from the publication outcome.
  • Professional interests: Membership in organizations, advisory roles, or collaboration with entities that might benefit from the research findings.

2. Disclosure by Authors All authors must disclose any competing interests when submitting a manuscript. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Funding sources for the research.
  • Any financial relationships with entities that have an interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.
  • Any personal relationships or affiliations that could influence the work.

A statement of competing interests must be included at the end of the manuscript under the heading “Competing Interests.” If there are no competing interests, the authors should state: “The authors declare no competing interests.”

3. Disclosure by Reviewers Reviewers are required to disclose any potential competing interests that could bias their evaluation of the manuscript. If a reviewer has a conflict of interest, they should decline the review request and notify the editorial office.

4. Disclosure by Editors Editors must disclose any competing interests that could affect their decisions regarding a manuscript. If an editor has a conflict of interest, they should recuse themselves from handling the manuscript and delegate the responsibility to another qualified editor.

5. Management of Competing Interests The Journal of Innovative Technologies in Learning and Education (J-ITLE) takes competing interests seriously to maintain the integrity of the publication process. The editorial team will review disclosed interests and take appropriate action, which may include:

  • Reassigning the manuscript to a different editor.
  • Requesting additional peer reviews.
  • Publishing a competing interests statement alongside the article.

6. Consequences of Non-Disclosure Failure to disclose competing interests may result in the rejection of the manuscript, retraction of a published article, or other corrective actions as deemed necessary by the editorial team.

7. Public Declaration In the interest of transparency, all competing interests will be publicly disclosed in the published article.