Statement of Peer Review Policies

The Bulletin of Education and Research (BER) applies a double-blind peer review process to submitted research articles. The process is designed to support fair, confidential, and academically rigorous evaluation.

1 Peer Review Model Overview

The Bulletin of Education and Research (BER) operates a Double-Blind Peer Review Policy for all submitted research articles.

Under this model:

  • The identity of the authors is concealed from the reviewers throughout the review process.
  • The identity of the reviewers is concealed from the authors throughout and after the review process.

This policy supports objectivity, reduces the risk of reviewer bias, and maintains rigorous scholarly evaluation.

2 Step-by-Step Peer Review Workflow

Flowchart illustrating the BER manuscript peer review workflow
Overview of the manuscript review and editorial decision process.

Step 1: Initial Desk Review and Pre-Screening

Upon receipt of a manuscript, the Editorial Office conducts a preliminary desk review:

  1. Scope and Quality Check: Verification that the paper falls within the scope of educational research and adheres to BER formatting guidelines (APA 7th Edition).
  2. Plagiarism and Similarity Screening: All submissions are screened using Turnitin software. Papers exceeding HEC similarity thresholds or exhibiting ethical flaws may be desk-rejected.

Step 2: Anonymization Verification

The Editorial Office verifies that author identities, affiliations, self-citations, and institutional details are removed from the review copy to protect the integrity of the double-blind process.

Step 3: External Peer Review Assignment

  • The manuscript is assigned to a minimum of two independent external reviewers with specialized knowledge in the relevant area of education.
  • Reviewers are selected from academic and research institutions nationally and internationally to support independent expert assessment.

Step 4: Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers evaluate the manuscript against the following criteria:

  • Relevance and Significance: Alignment with educational policy, practice, or theory.
  • Methodological Rigor: Clear research design, appropriate sampling, valid and reliable instrumentation, and sound data analysis.
  • Theoretical Framework: Strong linkage between literature, theoretical models, and empirical findings.
  • Originality and Contribution: Clear identification of research gaps and novel findings.
  • Clarity and Language: Scholarly presentation, adherence to APA 7th style, and logical structure.

Step 5: Reviewer Recommendations

Reviewers submit detailed narrative feedback and one of the following recommendations:

  • Accept as isNo revisions required.
  • Minor RevisionsAcceptable subject to minor adjustments.
  • Major RevisionsSubstantial revision and possible re-evaluation required.
  • RejectUnsuitable for publication in BER.

Step 6: Editorial Decision

  • The Handling Editor or Editor-in-Chief considers the reviewers' evaluations and makes the editorial decision.
  • When reviewer evaluations conflict, a third senior domain expert may be invited to review the manuscript before a decision is reached.

Step 7: Revision and Re-Review Process

  • Authors receiving revision requests must submit a point-by-point response to reviewer comments alongside the revised manuscript.
  • Revised papers are re-evaluated by the handling editor or returned to the original reviewers for confirmation, as appropriate.

3 Reviewer Selection and Qualifications

Reviewers are vetted based on their publication record, academic expertise (Ph.D. or equivalent in Education or related fields), institutional affiliation, and prior peer-review performance. Editorial board members and external reviewers are expected to maintain active research credentials.

4 Turnaround Time and Timeliness

  • Initial Desk Decision: Within 1–2 weeks of submission.
  • First-Round Peer Review Decision: Typically within 6–8 weeks.
  • Publication Timeline: BER publishes regularly scheduled tri-annual issues.

5 Peer Review Transparency and Integrity

  • No Peer Review Manipulation: BER monitors and seeks to prevent fake peer-review accounts, citation farming, and inappropriate reviewer suggestions.
  • Confidentiality: Review notes, correspondence, and submitted files are treated as confidential and protected.

6 Ethical Framework

BER's peer review practices are guided by recognized principles of responsible scholarly publishing, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidance for peer reviewers and its Core Practices.