Editorial Policies

The Journal of Educational Innovations and Practices (JEIP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. The journal’s editorial and peer review processes are guided by the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Peer Review Policy

JEIP applies a rigorous and efficient double-blind peer review process. The identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from each other throughout the evaluation process.

A. Initial Editorial Assessment

  • Timeline: An initial decision is provided within 7 days.
  • Scope & Compliance: Manuscripts are checked for journal scope, format compliance, and completeness.
  • Similarity Check: The similarity index must be below 25% (excluding references).
  • Editorial Decision: The Editor-in-Chief decides whether the manuscript proceeds to peer review or is desk rejected.

B. Peer Review Process

  • Reviewers: Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers.
  • Invitation Period: Reviewers are given 7 days to accept the invitation.
  • Review Period: Reviews are expected within 7 days after acceptance.

C. Evaluation Criteria

  • Review Quality: Review reports must include a minimum of 100 words with a clear scholarly justification.
  • Conflicting Reviews: A third reviewer may be assigned if evaluations are contradictory.
  • Final Decision: The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision based on editorial recommendations.

D. Reviewer Citation Ethics (COPE-Aligned)

Reviewers must not request citations to their own publications, or to closely related work, unless there is a clear and scientifically justified reason. Requests intended to increase personal citation metrics are considered unethical and may lead to removal from the reviewer pool.

E. Ethical Issues During Review

If ethical concerns arise during peer review (e.g., conflicts of interest, citation manipulation, or breach of confidentiality), JEIP follows the COPE Core Practices. Appropriate actions may include requesting clarification, appointing additional reviewers, or discontinuing reviewer collaboration.

F. Revisions

  • Revision Period: Authors are given 30 days to submit revisions.
  • Response Document: A detailed “Response to Reviewers” file is mandatory.

2. General Guidelines & Quotas

  • Editorial Board Submissions: Limited to one manuscript per year.
  • Reviewer Restrictions: Reviewers may not publish in the same issue they reviewed.
  • Internal Quota: Submissions from editors and reviewers must not exceed 25% of any issue.
  • Withdrawal: Requires a formal request signed by all co-authors.
  • Appeals: Rejection decisions may be appealed within 10 days with substantiated arguments.

3. Plagiarism Policy

  • Screening: All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software (e.g., iThenticate).
  • Threshold: Manuscripts with a similarity index above 25% are rejected.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

  • Authorship: AI tools cannot be listed as authors.
  • Disclosure: Any use of AI tools must be transparently declared by the authors.
  • Peer Review: Reviewers must not upload manuscripts to AI tools.

5. Research Ethics and Consent

  • Ethics Approval: Mandatory for studies involving human participants.
  • Informed Consent: Required from all participants.
  • Reporting: Authors are encouraged to follow international reporting standards.

Note: Ethics approval details must remain anonymized during peer review and disclosed only after acceptance.

6. Data Availability

All manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement describing where and how the underlying data can be accessed.

7. Corrections & Retractions

  • Corrections: Issued for minor errors that do not affect conclusions.
  • Retractions: Issued for serious ethical violations or unreliable findings.

8. Preprint Sharing

  • Manuscripts previously shared on non-profit preprint servers may be submitted.
  • Authors must disclose preprint information and update the record with the DOI after publication.