Guidelines for Editors and Reviewers

The Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and scholarly excellence. Our editorial and review processes are central to this mission. Below are the guidelines for editors and reviewers to ensure a fair, thorough, and consistent review process.

1. Role of Editors:

1.1. Manuscript Assessment:

• Initial Screening: Editors are responsible for the initial assessment of submitted manuscripts. This includes evaluating the manuscript’s relevance to the journal’s scope, originality, and adherence to submission guidelines.
• Conflict of Interest: Editors must declare any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict exists.

1.2. Reviewer Selection:

• Expertise Matching: Editors should select reviewers who have the appropriate expertise in the subject matter of the manuscript.
• Diversity and Fairness: Aim for diversity in reviewer selection to ensure a balanced evaluation, considering factors such as geography, gender, and seniority.

1.3. Decision-Making:

• Based on Reviews: Editors make decisions based on the feedback from peer reviewers. They may choose to accept, request revisions, or reject the manuscript.
• Communication: Editors are responsible for communicating decisions to authors, including providing constructive feedback based on reviewers’ comments.

1.4. Ethical Considerations:

• Confidentiality: Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and the identities of reviewers.
• Fairness: Ensure that the review process is unbiased and that decisions are made based on the content of the manuscript, without regard to the authors’ background, nationality, or institutional affiliation.

2. Role of Reviewers:

2.1. Responsibilities:

• Objective Evaluation: Reviewers should provide an objective, balanced, and constructive assessment of the manuscript, evaluating its originality, methodology, clarity, and contribution to the field.
• Timeliness: Reviews should be completed within the timeframe requested by the editor to ensure a prompt decision-making process.

2.2. Review Process:

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat the manuscript as a confidential document. It should not be shared with others or discussed with anyone outside the review process.
• Anonymity: The review process is double-blind; reviewers should not attempt to identify the authors of the manuscript and should not reveal their own identity in the review comments.

2.3. Providing Feedback:

• Constructive Criticism: Offer detailed, constructive feedback to help authors improve their manuscript. Avoid personal comments or harsh language.
• Recommendation: Reviewers should clearly recommend whether the manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected, providing justification for their recommendation.

2.4. Ethical Standards:

• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and decline to review a manuscript if a conflict exists.
• Plagiarism and Ethical Concerns: Reviewers should alert the editor if they suspect plagiarism, ethical issues, or any form of research misconduct in the manuscript.

3. General Guidelines:

3.1. Communication:

• With Authors: Maintain professional and constructive communication with authors, ensuring that feedback is clear and actionable.
• With the Editorial Office: Promptly inform the editorial office of any issues or delays in the review process.

3.2. Continuous Improvement:

• Training and Development: Editors and reviewers are encouraged to engage in ongoing training and professional development to stay updated on best practices in academic publishing and peer review.

4. Ethical Responsibilities:

4.1. Integrity: Both editors and reviewers must uphold the integrity of the academic record, ensuring that published research meets the highest standards of quality and ethical conduct.

4.2. Reporting Misconduct: Any instances of suspected misconduct, including plagiarism or unethical research practices, should be reported to the editorial office immediately.