Stage 1: Selection of potential papers

Reviewers should assess

1. The importance of the research question (e.g., are objectives and justification clearly stated?)
2. The originality (contribution, addition of knowledge to scientific literature or field)

Stage 2: Revision of selected manuscripts

Reviewers should assess

1. The strengths and weaknesses of the methodology and analyses described
   1. Whether analyses are justified, methodologically sound, and informative
   2. Whether the degree/clarity of methodological detail is sufficient to exactly replicate the procedures and analysis
2. Whether the authors have sufficient outcome-neutral tests for ensuring that the results obtained are able to test the stated hypotheses, including positive controls and quality checks
   1. Whether the data are able to test the authors’ proposed hypotheses according to  outcome-neutral conditions (i.e., quality checks, positive controls, etc.)
3. The author’s interpretation of the results and conclusions drawn from the results; whether the authors’ conclusions are justified given the data
4. The writing (e.g., organization, figures, etc.), though copy edits will come at a later stage

Reviewers should also give their overall opinion and general observations of the article. Comments should be courteous and constructive, and should not include any ad hominem remarks or personal details.

Manuscripts should come with a suggestion of Accept or Revise. If a reviewer recommends a major or minor revision, they must furnish the author with a clear, sound explanation of why this is necessary. The revised article will be reviewed in turn.

Stage 3: Manuscript will be passed to a second reviewer for a second opinion (based on previous criteria) and any copy edits.

• Confidentiality:

Manuscripts under peer-review or editing must not be put into AI tools by the reviewers/editors unless consented to by the author 

Review Team

The Managing and Deputy Editors will hire a team of reviewers. The reviewers will be responsible for peer review and copy editing of the selected papers. The peer review process is anonymous reviewer/anonymous author; any communications between reviewers and authors will pass through the editors. Reviewers for specific articles will not be indicated in the journal itself, but the review team will be credited altogether.