Peer Review & Publication Ethics

Peer Review Process

All submissions to JSSF undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the highest standards of academic quality and integrity.

Review Stages

  1. Initial Screening (3–5 business days) — The Editor-in-Chief reviews the submission for scope, quality, formatting compliance, and potential plagiarism.
  2. Reviewer Assignment — At least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise are invited to evaluate the manuscript.
  3. Review Period (2–4 weeks) — Reviewers evaluate the manuscript on originality, methodology, significance, clarity, and ethical compliance.
  4. Editorial Decision — Based on reviewer reports, one of the following decisions is made:
    • Accept without revision
    • Accept with minor revisions
    • Major revisions required (re-review)
    • Reject
  5. Revision & Resubmission — Authors address reviewer comments point-by-point and resubmit with a response letter.
  6. Final Decision — The editor makes the final publication decision.

Review Criteria

Manuscripts are evaluated on the following dimensions:

  • Originality — Does the work present new ideas, methods, or findings?
  • Methodology — Is the research design appropriate and rigorous?
  • Significance — Does the work advance knowledge in the field?
  • Clarity — Is the manuscript well-organized and clearly written?
  • References — Are citations comprehensive and current?
  • Ethics — Does the research comply with ethical standards?

Plagiarism Screening Policy

JSSF is committed to publishing only original work. All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism and redundant publication.

  • Manuscripts are checked using plagiarism detection software during initial screening.
  • Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 20% (excluding references and quotations) will be returned to authors for revision or rejected.
  • Self-plagiarism, including substantial overlap with the authors’ own previously published work, is also subject to screening.
  • Confirmed plagiarism at any stage (pre- or post-publication) will result in immediate rejection or retraction.

Publication Ethics Statement

JSSF adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows the COPE Core Practices.

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Submitted manuscripts must be original work not previously published or under consideration elsewhere.
  • All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the research and manuscript preparation.
  • Authors must disclose all conflicts of interest and funding sources.
  • Research involving human or animal subjects must have obtained appropriate ethical approval from an institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee.
  • Data fabrication, falsification, and inappropriate manipulation of images are strictly prohibited.
  • Authors must promptly notify the editor of any significant errors discovered in published work.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Reviews must be conducted objectively and constructively with specific, evidence-based feedback.
  • Reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality of the manuscript and not use unpublished information for personal advantage.
  • Reviewers should declare any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when appropriate.
  • Reviewers should complete their reviews within the agreed-upon timeframe.
  • Reviewers should report suspected ethical violations to the editor.

Responsibilities of Editors

  • Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, without discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, or institutional affiliation.
  • Editors must maintain confidentiality of all submissions and review materials.
  • Editors must recuse themselves from handling submissions where they have a conflict of interest.
  • Editors must act promptly when ethical concerns are raised about submitted or published work.

Appeals & Complaints

Authors who wish to appeal an editorial decision should submit a detailed appeal letter to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days of the decision, providing specific responses to all reviewer and editor concerns.

  • Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and, if warranted, may be sent for additional independent review.
  • The journal aims to respond to appeals within 4 weeks.
  • The decision on appeal is final.

For complaints regarding editorial processes or publication ethics, please contact: editor@jssf-journal.org

Retraction & Correction Policy

JSSF follows COPE Retraction Guidelines.

  • Errata/Corrigenda: Minor errors that do not affect the conclusions will be corrected via a published erratum.
  • Retraction: Articles found to contain unreliable data, plagiarism, ethical violations, or other serious issues will be retracted with a published retraction notice.
  • Expressions of Concern: When concerns are raised but not yet fully resolved, an expression of concern may be published.

All corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern are linked to the original article to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.