Peer Review & Publication Policy

This journal uses double-blind peer review, which means that the two reviewers of the manuscript won’t get to know the identity of the author(s), and the author(s) won’t get to know the identity of the reviewer. The idea is that everyone should get a similar and unbiased review.

The purpose of the peer review practice is to ensure that good research, case study, report, survey, or science is published. It is an objective process at the heart of good scholarly publishing. Our reviewers therefore play a vital role in maintaining the high standards of the journal, and all manuscripts are peer reviewed following the procedure outlined below.

Initial manuscript evaluation
The editor first evaluates all manuscripts. It is rare, but it is entirely feasible for an exceptional manuscript to be accepted at this stage. Those rejected at this stage are insufficiently original, have serious scientific flaws, have poor grammar or English language, or are outside the aims and scope of the journal. Those that meet the minimum criteria are passed on to at least two experts for review. Authors of manuscripts rejected at this stage will be informed within one week of receipt. 

Type of peer review
JTSE employs a double-blind peer review process, in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process. This approach helps ensure an objective and unbiased evaluation of submitted manuscripts based solely on their scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the journal's scope. It also promotes fairness and transparency by minimizing the potential influence of personal, institutional, or geographical factors on editorial decisions.

How the reviewer is selected

Since 2024, authors submitting manuscripts to TULTECH journals are required to suggest two reviewers who meet the following criteria:

• Hold a PhD degree.
• Have expertise in the field relevant to the manuscript's subject.
• Have affiliations different from the authors of the manuscript.

These criteria ensure the quality and impartiality of the peer review process, contributing to the integrity and credibility of the published research.

Reviewer reports
Reviewers are asked to evaluate whether the manuscript:
-Is original 
-Is methodologically sound 
-Follows appropriate ethical guidelines 
-Has results which are clearly presented and support the conclusions 
-Correctly references previous relevant work 

Reviewers are not expected to correct or copyedit manuscripts. Language correction is not part of the peer review process.

How long does the review process take?
Typically, the manuscript will be reviewed within 1–6 weeks. Should the reviewers' reports contradict one another or a report be unnecessarily delayed, further expert opinion will be sought. All our reviewers sign a conflict of interest statement. Revised manuscripts are usually returned to the initial referees within 1–6 weeks. Reviewers may request more than one revision of a manuscript. 

Final report
A final decision to accept or reject the manuscript will be sent to the author along with any recommendations made by the reviewers, which may include verbatim comments by the reviewers. 

Editor’s decision is final
Reviewers advise the editor, who is responsible for the final decision to accept or reject the article. 

Becoming a Reviewer for JTSE
If you are not currently a reviewer for JTSE but would like to be added to the list of reviewers for this title, please contact the editorial office at jtse.tultech@gmail.com or request to be a reviewer via Publon. The benefits of reviewing include the opportunity to see and evaluate the latest work in your research area at an early stage and to be acknowledged in an annual statement in the journal. 

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of another person's published or unpublished ideas, words, data, figures, or other intellectual property without proper permission, or attribution, and presenting them as original work. The Journal of Transactions in Systems Engineering (JTSE) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. 

All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism-detection software, including iThenticate/Turnitin, as part of the initial editorial assessment and throughout the review process when necessary. Prior to any editorial decision, the Editorial Board carefully evaluates the plagiarism screening report alongside reviewers’ comments to ensure the originality and integrity of the submitted work. The Editorial Board meets regularly to discuss manuscripts and make informed decisions based on the peer-review reports and plagiarism analysis.

JTSE has a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism in any form. Manuscripts found to contain significant plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or other forms of academic misconduct will be rejected immediately. If such issues are discovered after publication, appropriate corrective actions, including article retraction, may be taken in accordance with established publication ethics guidelines.

At JTSE, we strongly discourage and are against the Plagiarism Act. Self-plagiarism refers to the practice of an author using portions of their previous writings on the same topic in another of their publications without specifically citing them formally in quotes.

Citations
The journal complies with I4OC standards for open citations. https://i4oc.org/