Peer Review Process

The peer review process for articles submitted to the Gateway for Understanding Research in Education (GURU) journal in the field of environmental health is designed to ensure the accuracy, quality, and integrity of published research. This process typically includes the following steps:

1. Initial Editorial Assessment

After submission, each manuscript is first examined by the editorial team to ensure its relevance to the journal’s focus and scope, as well as compliance with submission guidelines, ethical principles, and quality standards.

2. Reviewer Assignment

Manuscripts that pass the preliminary screening are assigned to a minimum of two independent reviewers with expertise relevant to the manuscript’s topic area. Reviewers are selected based on their academic qualifications, research background, and subject matter competence.

3. Reviewer Evaluation

Reviewers assess the manuscript’s scientific rigor, methodological soundness, relevance, clarity of presentation, and overall contribution to the field. They also evaluate the accuracy of data analysis, the logic of interpretation, and whether the conclusions are adequately supported by the evidence.

4. Reviewer Feedback and Recommendations

Each reviewer provides detailed comments, constructive criticism, and suggestions for improvement. Recommendations may include acceptance, minor or major revision, or rejection. Reviewers also help identify potential ethical issues such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or conflicts of interest.

5. Author Revision

Authors are given the opportunity to revise their manuscripts in response to the reviewers’ feedback. They must submit a revision report explaining how each comment has been addressed and highlighting the corresponding changes made in the manuscript.

6. Editorial Decision

The editorial board reviews the revised manuscript and the authors’ responses. Based on the reviewers’ recommendations and the editors’ evaluation, a final decision is made either to accept the paper for publication, request further revisions, or reject it.

7. Publication Process

Once accepted, manuscripts undergo copyediting, layout formatting, and proofreading before being published in the scheduled issue of the journal. The journal ensures that every published article meets high academic and ethical standards.