PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Educatio Christi applies a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, originality, academic integrity, and relevance of manuscripts published in the journal. In this process, the identities of authors and reviewers are kept confidential throughout the review process. All manuscripts submitted to Educatio Christi are evaluated through the following stages.
1. Preliminary Editorial Assessment
All submitted manuscripts are first examined by the editorial team to determine their suitability for the journal's focus and scope, academic quality, originality, completeness, and compliance with the journal's author guidelines.
The editorial team also conducts an initial similarity and plagiarism screening. Similarity results are assessed contextually and do not constitute the sole basis for an editorial decision. Manuscripts that do not meet the journal's basic requirements, are outside the journal's scope, or contain substantial ethical or academic problems may be rejected before being sent for peer review.
Manuscripts that pass the preliminary assessment proceed to the peer review stage.
2. Selection of Reviewers
The editor assigns at least two independent reviewers with appropriate expertise in the subject area of the manuscript.
Reviewers should:
- have relevant academic and research expertise;
- be affiliated with an institution different from that of the authors;
- have no conflict of interest with the authors or the research;
- maintain confidentiality regarding the manuscript; and
- provide an objective and constructive assessment.
When necessary, the editor may appoint an additional reviewer, particularly when reviewer recommendations differ substantially or when specialized expertise is required.
3. Double-Blind Peer Review
Educatio Christi uses a double-blind peer review system. The identities of authors are not disclosed to reviewers, and the identities of reviewers are not disclosed to authors.
Reviewers evaluate manuscripts primarily on the basis of their scholarly content, including:
- Originality and contribution to the field;
- Theoretical or conceptual foundation;
- Methodological rigor and appropriateness;
- Quality of analysis and argumentation;
- Significance and relevance to the journal's focus and scope; and
- Clarity and quality of academic presentation.
Reviewers provide constructive comments and recommendations concerning the manuscript's suitability for publication. The possible recommendations are:
- Accept
- Minor Revision
- Major Revision
- Reject
4. Editorial Decision
The final editorial decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief or the assigned editor, taking into consideration the reviewers' recommendations, the quality of the manuscript, its relevance to the journal's scope, and compliance with publication ethics.
If the reviewers provide substantially different recommendations, the editor may request an additional review before making a decision.
The editorial decision and relevant reviewer comments are communicated to the authors through the journal's online submission system.
5. Revision and Re-review
When revisions are required, authors must revise their manuscripts in accordance with the reviewers' and editors' comments.
Authors are expected to submit:
- the revised manuscript; and
- a response to reviewers explaining how each substantive comment has been addressed.
As a general guideline, authors are given approximately two weeks for minor revisions and four weeks for major revisions, although the editor may adjust the deadline according to the circumstances of each manuscript.
Manuscripts requiring major revisions may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation. Additional revisions may be requested when necessary to ensure that the manuscript meets the journal's scholarly standards.
6. Final Editorial and Publication Stage
After the manuscript has received final acceptance, it proceeds to the publication preparation stage, including copyediting, proofreading, layout, and final author approval.
The manuscript is published only after the editorial team has confirmed that the final version meets the journal's academic, ethical, and technical requirements.
Through this peer review process, Educatio Christi seeks to ensure that published articles demonstrate scholarly rigor, originality, academic integrity, and meaningful contribution to the fields covered by the journal.