Skip to main content
ScholixPublishers

Policies

Peer-review policy

How manuscripts submitted to Scholix journals are evaluated, from the first editorial check to the final decision.

Last updated

Review model

Research articles, reviews and case reports in Scholix journals are peer reviewed under a double-blind model: reviewers do not know who the authors are, and authors do not know who reviewed their work. Authors remove identifying information from the manuscript and supply a separate title page.

Editorial content

Editorials and invited commentaries are reviewed by the editors rather than by external reviewers. This is stated on the published article.

The review process

  1. 01

    Editorial check

    The editorial office confirms the manuscript is complete, within scope and anonymized, and runs a similarity check. Incomplete or out-of-scope manuscripts are returned without review.
  2. 02

    Editor assignment

    The Editor-in-Chief assigns a handling editor with relevant expertise and no conflict of interest.
  3. 03

    External review

    The handling editor invites at least two independent reviewers to assess originality, methods, analysis, interpretation and reporting.
  4. 04

    Decision

    The handling editor decides on the basis of the reviews and their own reading, and sends the decision with all reviewer reports.
  5. 05

    Revision

    Revised manuscripts come with a point-by-point response and may return to the original reviewers before a final decision.

Editorial decisions

Accept
The manuscript is accepted as it stands or with minor editorial changes.
Minor revision
The manuscript is acceptable in principle once specific points are addressed.
Major revision
Substantial changes are needed, and the revised manuscript is usually reviewed again.
Reject
The manuscript is not suitable for the journal. Reasons are given, and resubmission is possible only when invited.

Reviewer selection and responsibilities

Reviewers are chosen for their expertise and independence. We do not invite reviewers from the authors' institutions or recent collaborators, and authors may ask, with reasons, for specific people to be excluded. Reviewers agree to:

  • Keep the manuscript and their report confidential, and never share or upload it.
  • Declare any conflict of interest and decline when they cannot review impartially.
  • Give specific, constructive comments within the agreed time, usually 14 days.
  • Not contact the authors directly.

Submissions by editors

Manuscripts submitted by an editor of the journal are handled by another member of the board, and the submitting editor has no access to the review. The published article carries a statement to that effect.

Appeals

Authors who believe a decision rests on a misunderstanding or a factual error may appeal within 30 days by writing to info@scholixonline.org with a reasoned response to the reviewers. Appeals are considered by an editor who was not involved in the original decision, and the outcome is final.