Review Policy

The Journal of Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence (JITCAI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic rigor and integrity through a robust peer review process. The peer review system ensures that published articles meet the journal's quality standards, contribute to the academic field, and provide value to the research community. This policy outlines the peer review process and expectations for all parties involved.

1. Peer Review Model

JITCAI employs a Double-Blind Peer Review process. In this model:

  • Reviewers do not know the identities of the authors, and the authors do not know the identities of the reviewers.
  • This ensures impartiality, fairness, and an unbiased assessment of the submitted work.

2. Manuscript Submission and Initial Screening

  • Initial Submission: Manuscripts must be submitted via the journal's online submission system.
  • Initial Editorial Review: Upon receipt, all manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the editorial team to ensure they fit the journal's scope and meet the basic quality standards. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected before peer review.
  • Plagiarism Check: Manuscripts will be checked for plagiarism using a recognized tool (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate). Manuscripts with significant overlap with previously published work may be rejected at this stage.

3. Peer Reviewer Selection

  • Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial review will be sent to at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant field.
  • Reviewers are selected based on their knowledge of the manuscript’s subject area and their availability to complete the review in a timely manner.

4. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and validity of the research published in JITCAI. Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide clear, detailed, and constructive feedback to help the authors improve the manuscript. Criticism should be objective and focused on the content rather than the authors.
  • Assess Originality and Contribution: Reviewers should assess the novelty of the research, its relevance to the journal’s scope, and its contribution to the field.
  • Evaluate Methodology: Reviewers should check that the research methodology is appropriate, rigorous, and well-executed.
  • Recommend Actions: Reviewers will be asked to recommend one of the following actions:
    • Accept
    • Minor Revisions
    • Major Revisions
    • Reject
  • Maintain Confidentiality: Reviewers must keep the content of the manuscript confidential and should not share it with others or use the information in the manuscript for their own research.

5. Decision Process

  • Editorial Decision: After receiving feedback from the reviewers, the Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editors will make the final decision based on the reviewers’ recommendations. Decisions will fall into one of the following categories:
    • Accept: The manuscript is accepted as it is or with minor revisions.
    • Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor revisions before it can be accepted.
    • Major Revisions: The manuscript requires significant changes before it can be reconsidered.
    • Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication in JITCAI.
  • Author Notification: Authors will be informed of the decision via email and will receive the reviewers' comments, whether the manuscript is accepted, requires revisions, or is rejected.

6. Revision Process

  • Minor Revisions: Authors will be given a short period (typically 2-4 weeks) to make minor changes to the manuscript based on the reviewers’ feedback.
  • Major Revisions: For more substantial revisions, authors will be given up to 8 weeks to address the reviewers' comments. Revised manuscripts may be sent back to the reviewers for further evaluation.
  • Resubmission: If the reviewers or editors recommend major revisions, the revised manuscript may undergo another round of peer review before a final decision is made.

7. Appeals Process

  • Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions. If an author believes that the rejection was based on unfair or biased feedback, they may submit a detailed letter of appeal to the Editor-in-Chief. The editorial board will carefully review the appeal and make a final decision.

8. Reviewer Recognition

  • Acknowledgment: Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the quality of the journal, and their contributions are acknowledged. Reviewers' names may be published in an annual acknowledgment list, with their permission.
  • Confidentiality: The journal maintains the anonymity of reviewers in the double-blind review process unless the reviewer explicitly requests otherwise after the review process.

9. Publication Frequency

JITCAI publishes four issues per year. Manuscripts will be processed and published in the next available issue after acceptance, following final revisions and production formatting.

JITCAI strives to ensure a fair, transparent, and constructive peer review process to maintain the quality of the research it publishes. All parties involved—authors, reviewers, and editors—are expected to contribute to the integrity and excellence of the journal.