Reviewer responsibilities

SCIENCE – International Journal relies on peer reviewers to ensure the quality, integrity, and credibility of the scholarly record. Reviewers are expected to conduct their work in accordance with the ethical standards and best practices defined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions

  • Peer review assists editors in making informed editorial decisions and helps authors improve the quality of their manuscripts.

  • Reviewers must provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based evaluations of the scholarly merit, originality, methodology, and relevance of the manuscript.

  • Personal criticism of the authors is inappropriate and unacceptable.

2. Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.

  • Reviewers must not share, discuss, or disclose manuscript content with unauthorized individuals.

  • Information obtained during the peer review process must not be used for personal advantage or to disadvantage others.

3. Competence and Timeliness

  • Reviewers should accept review assignments only when they have appropriate expertise and can complete the review within the agreed timeframe.

  • If a reviewer feels unqualified or unable to provide a timely review, they must promptly notify the editor and decline the invitation.

4. Objectivity and Fairness

  • Reviews should be conducted objectively and impartially, without bias related to the authors’ nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, or personal beliefs.

  • All evaluations must be supported by clear arguments and relevant references where appropriate.

5. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

  • Reviewers must disclose any financial, professional, or personal conflicts of interest that could affect their objectivity.

  • Reviewers must decline the review if a conflict of interest exists or could reasonably be perceived to exist.

6. Ethical Vigilance

  • Reviewers should alert editors to any suspected ethical issues, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, or unethical research practices.

  • Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors.

7. Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

  • Reviewers must not upload manuscripts or parts thereof to generative AI tools or external platforms that compromise confidentiality.

  • Any use of AI-based tools must comply with journal policies and must not replace the reviewer’s own critical judgment.

8. Accountability and Professional Conduct

  • Reviewers are expected to maintain a professional, respectful, and responsible tone in all communications.

  • Failure to comply with reviewer responsibilities may result in removal from the reviewer database.

Final Statement

Peer reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the academic quality and ethical standards of SCIENCE – International Journal. Adherence to these responsibilities ensures a fair, transparent, and trustworthy peer review process.