Reviewer Guidelines

 Reviewer Guidelines

Before agreeing to review, consider whether the manuscript aligns with your expertise and whether you can provide a thorough, high-quality assessment.

Check for any potential conflicts of interest and disclose them to the editor.

Ensure you have sufficient time to complete the review by the deadline, as the process can be time-consuming.

  

How to peer review for UTJES

Here is a clear, polished paraphrased version that keeps the meaning but improves flow and readability:

Reviewer reports should provide a thorough and detailed critique of the manuscript, going beyond a few brief comments. While UTJES does not require a fixed structure, reviewers are encouraged to organize their reports using the following format:

* *Summary*
* *Major issues*
* *Minor issues*

Reviewers are encouraged to support authors in improving their manuscripts by offering constructive and specific feedback, particularly when revisions are recommended. If reviewers wish to communicate comments that should not be shared with the authors, these may be included in the confidential comments to the Editor-in-Chief.

Although expectations may differ across disciplines, core aspects that reviewers should consider include the following:

* Validity of the research questions
* Adequacy of the sample size
* Presence of required ethical approval and informed consent, and whether the research was conducted ethically
* Appropriateness of the study design and methods for addressing the research questions
* Use of suitable experimental controls
* Clarity and completeness of the methods description, including materials and equipment, to allow reproducibility
* Appropriateness and accuracy of statistical analyses
* Clarity and accuracy of figures and tables
* Engagement with relevant previous research, including appropriate comparison with existing findings
* Use of appropriate citations, avoiding unsupported claims or excessive self-citation
* Alignment between results and conclusions
* Acknowledgement of study limitations
* Accuracy and balance of the abstract, without overinterpretation
* Clarity and quality of the language

To ensure timely processing, reviewer reports should be submitted through the manuscript tracking system by the agreed deadline. If a reviewer is unable to meet the deadline, they should contact UTJES promptly so that an alternative timeline can be arranged.

Reviewers are encouraged to focus primarily on an objective assessment of the scientific quality of the submission, including the robustness of the methodology and whether the conclusions are supported by the results. Comments on novelty and potential impact may also be included. At the conclusion of the review, reviewers should recommend one of the following outcomes:

* Accept
* Minor revision
* Major revision
* Reject
* Unable to review

If you’d like this shortened, made more formal, or adapted for reviewer guidelines or a website, just let me know.
Confidentiality

Manuscripts submitted for peer review must be treated as strictly confidential. Reviewers must not share the manuscript or discuss its content with anyone outside the peer review process.

If necessary, reviewers may consult with colleagues within their research group, provided that confidentiality is fully maintained. Prior to doing so, reviewers should seek approval from UTJES or the Editor-in-Chief and disclose the name(s) of the consulted colleague(s) in the “Comments to the Editor” section of the review report.

Conflicts of interest 

Reviewers should decline an invitation to review a manuscript if they:

• Have a financial or personal interest related to the subject matter
• Have previously discussed the manuscript with the authors
• Are unable to provide an objective and unbiased assessment.

Applications to review 

We welcome applications from researchers interested in joining our community of peer reviewers. Reviewers are selected by the Editorial Board on a manuscript-by-manuscript basis, with invitations extended to experts whose expertise and publication record best match the subject of the submission.

To ensure accurate and up-to-date contact information, prospective reviewers are encouraged to register for a user account.