Editorial Workflow
The editorial workflow of the SARPO’s Journals are designed to maintain high-quality standards and ensure the timely processing of manuscripts. It involves several systematic steps that guide submissions from initial receipt to final publication. Below is a detailed overview of the workflow:
- Manuscript Submission
Authors submit their manuscripts online through the emails of SARPO. The submission must comply with the journal’s Author Guidelines, which specify formatting, referencing style, and ethical standards.
- Initial Screening
Upon submission, the manuscript undergoes an initial screening by the editorial office to ensure compliance with:
- Scope: The manuscript must align with the journal’s field of research.
- Formatting: The paper must adhere to submission guidelines (e.g., word count, citation style, figure quality).
- Plagiarism Check: The editorial team checks for plagiarism to ensure originality of manuscript. Manuscripts with high similarity indices may be rejected at this stage.
- Assignment to an Editor
If the manuscript passes the initial screening, it is assigned to a Section Editor or Associate Editor with expertise in the relevant subject area.
- Review of the manuscript
The assigned editor sends the manuscript to the reviewer for review. The review process typically involves:
- Selecting two qualified reviewers from the journal’s database or external networks.
- Evaluating the manuscript based on originality, methodology, scientific merit, relevance, and clarity.
- Providing constructive feedback and recommendations: Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, or Reject.
- Editorial Decision
Based on reviewers’ feedback, the editor makes one of the following decisions:
- Accept: The manuscript meets all standards and is approved for publication.
- Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires small adjustments before acceptance.
- Major Revisions: The manuscript has potential but needs significant improvements.
- Reject: The manuscript fails to meet the journal’s standards or falls outside its scope.
Authors are informed of the decision and, if revisions are required, are given a deadline to resubmit the revised manuscript.
- Resubmission and Further Review
If revisions are submitted, the manuscript is re-evaluated by the editor and, in some cases, sent back to reviewers for additional input.
- Copyediting and Proofreading
Once the manuscript is accepted, it moves to the production stage, which includes:
- Copyediting: Language and formatting are refined to ensure clarity and adherence to the journal’s style.
- Proofreading: The author reviews the proof for minor corrections before finalization.
- Typesetting and Layout
The manuscript is formatted for publication, including designing tables, figures, and references according to the journal’s layout standards.
- Final Approval
The final version of the manuscript is reviewed by the editorial board for approval before publication.
- Publication
The article is published online and in print. Authors are notified, and the paper is indexed in relevant databases to ensure visibility.
- Post-Publication Activities
The journal may engage in activities like:
- Promoting the article on social media and academic platforms.
- Addressing any post-publication corrections or concerns raised by readers.
Notes on Ethical Standards
SARPO journals adheres to strict ethical standards, including:
- Compliance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.
- Handling conflicts of interest and research misconduct transparently.
- Ensuring fair and unbiased review.
This structured workflow ensures the high-quality research.