How does the peer review process work in Open Access Journals?

Peer Review Process in Open Access Journals

The peer review process in Open Access (OA) journals is designed to ensure quality, credibility, and academic integrity. It follows a structured evaluation method similar to subscription-based journals. Below is a detailed breakdown of how the process works:

1. Submission of Manuscript

• Authors submit their research paper through the journal’s online submission system, such as Scholar9 or OJSCloud, which provide efficient manuscript management.
• The submission includes the manuscript, figures, tables, references, and any required supporting documents.

2. Initial Editorial Check

• The journal's editor-in-chief or editorial board performs a preliminary review to check:
• Scope: Whether the paper fits within the journal’s subject area.
• Plagiarism: Use of plagiarism detection tools to ensure originality.
• Formatting & Compliance: Adherence to journal guidelines.
• If the paper meets basic criteria, it proceeds to the peer review stage. Otherwise, it may be desk rejected or sent back for revisions.

3. Peer Review Process

• The editor selects 2 to 4 subject-matter experts (peer reviewers) from the journal’s reviewer database or external sources.
• Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on the following key criteria:
• Originality: Is the research new and significant?
• Methodology: Are the methods valid, reproducible, and well-described?
• Data & Results: Is the data accurate, and are the findings supported by evidence?
• Clarity & Structure: Is the paper well-organized and clearly written?
• References & Citations: Does the paper cite relevant and recent studies?
• Reviewers provide comments and recommendations, such as:
• Accept as is
• Minor revisions required
• Major revisions required
• Reject (with reasons)

4. Decision & Revisions

• Based on reviewers’ feedback, the editor makes a final decision:
• Accepted: If no major issues are found.
• Revise & Resubmit: Authors must make the necessary changes and submit a revised version.
• Rejected: If the paper does not meet quality or relevance standards.
• Revised manuscripts may go through another round of review.

5. Final Acceptance & Publication

• Once approved, the final manuscript undergoes copyediting, formatting, and proofing.
• The article is then published Open Access, making it immediately available to readers worldwide on platforms like DOAJ, Scholar9, and OJSCloud.

Conclusion

The peer review process in Open Access journals is rigorous and follows international academic publishing standards. Journals managed through Scholar9 and OJSCloud maintain high-quality peer review procedures, ensuring credibility and research integrity.