Peer Review Process

Peer review is the system used to assess the quality of a manuscript before it is published. Independent researchers in the relevant research area assess submitted manuscripts for originality, validity, and significance to help editors determine whether a manuscript should be published in their journal.

How does it work?
When a manuscript is submitted to a journal, it is assessed to see if it meets the criteria for submission. If it does, the editorial team will select potential peer reviewers within the field of research to peer-review the manuscript and make recommendations.
There are four main types of peer review used by the Iraqi Journal for Computers and Informatics, Our partner publons.

Type (1) Single-blind: the reviewers know the names of the authors, but the authors do not know who reviewed their manuscript unless the reviewer chooses to sign their report.
Type (2) Double-blind: the reviewers do not know the names of the authors, and the authors do not know who reviewed their manuscripts.
Type (3) Open peer: authors know who the reviewers are, and the reviewers know who the authors are. If the manuscript is accepted, the named reviewer reports are published alongside the article.
Type (4) Transparent peer: the reviewers know the names of the authors, but the authors do not know who reviewed their manuscript unless the reviewer chooses to sign their report. If the manuscript is accepted, the anonymous reviewer reports are published alongside the article.
The system Review Process in the Iraqi Journal for Computers and Informatics is Double-blind

Why do peer review?
Peer review is an integral part of scientific publishing that confirms the validity of the manuscript. Peer reviewers are experts who volunteer their time to help improve the manuscripts they review. By undergoing peer review, manuscripts should become:
More robust - peer reviewers may point out gaps in a paper that require more explanation or additional experiments.
Easier to read - if parts of your paper are difficult to understand, reviewers can suggest changes.
More useful - peer reviewers also consider the importance of your paper to others in your field.

Peer review process Transparent peer this is the best way to ensure the reviewer gets credit for efforts. When engaged in open reviewing, make sure to add your ORCID iD to your name.
Publons and ResearchGate is an excellent tool for researchers who are not comfortable with having their reviews out in the open but still want to get credit for their work. Publons works together with major publishers to validate your claims of having reviewed publications.

Peer Review Process Overview

The Iraqi Journal for Computers and Informatics (IJCI) adheres to a double-blind peer review system to maintain the integrity and quality of published work. Manuscripts must be submitted via the dedicated online management system. Each submission undergoes a preliminary similarity check through Turnitin.

  • Initial Decision

Median Time to Initial Decision is 3 Weeks.

  • Turnaround time of the serial publication

It takes 5 Months or a manuscript to move from submission to publication. This period includes peer review and production stages.

  • Acceptance Rate

The average manuscript acceptance rate is 40% 

Manuscript Submission Steps:

  1. Article Submission: Authors must register and submit their articles through the IJCI online system.
  2. Initial Check: The editorial board manager verifies that the manuscript adheres to the journal’s Author Guidelines, focusing on structure and format.
  3. Editorial Assessment: Submitted manuscripts undergo an initial review by the journal’s editorial team to ensure they fit the scope and meet standards
  4. Plagiarism Screening: Manuscripts undergo a Turnitin check. Articles with similarity scores below 20% and Turnitin AI Detection scores below 25% proceed to the review stage; higher scores result in rejection.
  5. Reviewer Selection: the journal’s editorial team invites potential reviewers (at least three reviewer). The process continues until at least two reviewers respond and accept.
  6. Reviewer Response: Invited reviewers assess the fit with their expertise, check for conflicts of interest, and confirm their availability before accepting or declining the review invitation.
  7. Review Process: Reviewers thoroughly read the manuscript multiple times, forming initial impressions and noting significant considerations.
  8. Review Evaluation: The journal’s editorial team examines all reviewer feedback to make a conclusive decision. In cases of significant disparity among reviews, an additional reviewer may be solicited for further insights.
  9. Preliminary Decision: The journal’s editorial team communicates the initial decision to the author(s), incorporating anonymized comments from the reviewers.
  10. Revised Manuscript Submission: Authors must address reviewers’ comments, highlighting modifications in red text, and provide a point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments.
  11. Final Decision: The journal’s editorial team thoroughly reviews the revised manuscript to ensure all feedback has been adequately addressed. If the manuscript is accepted, the author must settle the publication fee. The manuscript is then forwarded to the copyediting and publishing team.