Peer Review Process

The Editorial team may triage a manuscript via initial review by the editorial staff, including the Editor and at least one Associate Editor, to ensure the paper meets certain criteria. Reasons for triage may include:

  • insufficient direct relevance to the scope of the Journal,
  • inadequate or unethical methodology,
  • inadequate statistical power or assessment,
  • insufficient innovation or contribution to the advancement of the field.

All other manuscripts will undergo the full peer review process, being referred to an Associate Editor, who will identify reviewers with the expertise to review the paper. At each Associate Editor's discretion, any manuscript may be referred specifically for statistical review relating to the appropriateness or otherwise of statistics used, adjustment for multiple comparisons, sample size issues and the like. Manuscripts with inadequate or inappropriate statistics will not be accepted. Authors are encouraged to suggest names of appropriate reviewers (include phone/fax/address/e-mail for each reviewer suggested) and may also request that a specific reviewer not be used.

Authors will receive a full response on their manuscript detailing any changes required by the Reviewers and Editorial team and the decision about the acceptance or otherwise of the manuscript. Only authors listed on the manuscript may receive information about a manuscript.

Authors who wish to object to an unfavorable decision must do so within two months of notification of a decision. Please note all communications must be addressed to the editorial office via email …... Any materials or communications sent to the Editor or Associate Editors will incur delays because they will be forwarded to the central Editorial Office for handling.

This journal operates a single-blind review process. Papers deemed suitable by the editors to a peer review process are then typically sent to a minimum of two independent expert reviewers to assess the scientific quality of the paper. The Editor is responsible for the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of articles. The Editor's decision is final.