MANUSCRIPT REVIEW

The submitted and proofed manuscripts are first reviewed by MISRJ staff to determine that all needed elements have been included in the submission and that the paper has been properly blinded. If changes are needed, the paper will be returned to the corresponding author for further attention. Once the paper is cleared by submission intake staff, the paper is screened by the editor-in-chief and deputy editor, who determine the need for peer review.

If selected for peer review, the submission is assigned to a responsible editor who oversees the review process. The responsible editor will select the potential reviewers from the list of names reviewers in our database. Three reviewers will be solicited to review the manuscript, and after three referees have accepted the review invitation and returned their reviews, the responsible editor makes a recommendation to the editor-in-chief, who then issues a final decision. This initial review process can take anywhere from 1 to 2 months, depending on the expertise and availability of reviewers. Most papers are in peer review for 2 months.

The time from submission to first decision averages about 3 months and typically is followed by a revision period. The entire process may take up to 4 months depending on the time required to make the revisions and how well the revisions address the reviewers' concerns.