Peer Review Process

The practice of peer review is intended to ensure that only good science is published. As an objective method of guaranteeing excellence in scholarly publishing, it has been adopted by all reputable scientific journals. Our reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the standards of the Accounting Student Research Journal.

Initial manuscript evaluation

The editors first evaluate all submitted manuscripts. Manuscripts rejected at this stage are insufficiently original, have serious scientific flaws, or are outside the aims and scope of the journal. The manuscript whose author doesn't re-submit the revised manuscript from editorial notes within six months will be rejected and allowed to make a new submission. Those that meet the minimum criteria are typically passed on to at least two expert reviewers for review.

Authors of manuscripts rejected at this stage will usually be informed within three weeks of receipt.

Type of peer review
The Accounting Student Research Journal employs double blind review, in which the reviewers remain anonymous to the author(s) throughout and following the reviewing process. In the same time of reviewing process the authors also remain anonymous. 

How the reviewer is selected
Whenever possible, reviewers are matched to the paper according to their expertise. 

Referee reports
Reviewers are asked to evaluate whether the manuscript:

  • Is original as to thought and method (including data)
  • Is methodologically sound
  • Has results which are clearly presented and support the conclusions
  • Correctly and exhaustively references previous relevant work
  • Follows appropriate ethical guidelines, especially as concerns plagiarism
  • Clearly adds to the knowledge and development of the field

How long does the review process take?
The time required for the review process is dependent on the response of the referees. For the Accounting Student Research Journal, the typical time for the first round of the review process is approximately 6 weeks, with a maximum of four months. 

Final report
A final decision to accept or reject the manuscript will be sent to the author along with the recommendations made by the reviewers, including (if applicable) the latter’s verbatim comments.

The Editor in Chief's decision is final
Reviewers advise the Editor in Chief, who is responsible for the final decision to accept or reject the article.