Peer Review Process

Every research article, short article and case comment published in IJLRD is peer reviewed.

Editorial screening. An editor reads each submission to see whether it falls within the journal’s scope, meets the guidelines and makes an original contribution. Each paper is checked for similarity with published sources and for text generated by artificial intelligence. A paper may be declined at this stage, and the author is told why.

Double-blind review. Papers that pass screening are sent to at least one reviewer with knowledge of the subject. Reviewers do not know who the authors are, and authors are not told who reviewed their paper. Reviewers are asked whether the argument is sound, whether the sources support it and whether the paper adds something to what is already written.

Decision. The editor decides on the basis of the reviews. The decision is one of: accept, accept with minor revisions, revise and resubmit, or decline. Authors receive the reviewers’ comments with every decision except a decline at screening.

Revisions. Authors who are asked to revise should return the revised paper with a short note explaining how each comment was addressed. The editor may send the revision back to the reviewer.

Independence. Editorial decisions are made only on the quality of the work. Whether an author can pay, where the author studies or works, and whether the author has published in the journal before have no bearing on the decision.

Appeals. An author who believes a decision was wrong may write to the editor within 30 days, giving reasons. The appeal is considered by an editor who was not involved in the original decision, and that decision is final.

Book reviews and legislative notes are reviewed by the editors and are not sent for external review.