Peer Review Process

Journal of Social Welfare Research and Practice applies a rigorous and transparent double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, originality, and academic integrity of all published articles.

1. Initial Manuscript Screening

Upon submission, the manuscript is reviewed by the editorial team to assess its suitability with the journal’s focus and scope, compliance with author guidelines, and adherence to ethical standards. Manuscripts may be rejected at this stage if they do not meet the journal’s basic requirements.

2. Plagiarism Check

All manuscripts that pass the initial screening are subjected to plagiarism detection using appropriate similarity-checking software. Manuscripts with unacceptable levels of similarity will be rejected or returned to authors for revision.

3. Double-Blind Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the preliminary checks are reviewed by at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise. Both the identities of the authors and reviewers are concealed to ensure an objective and unbiased review process.

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on:

  • Originality and contribution to the field

  • Relevance to social welfare research and practice

  • Methodological rigor and ethical compliance

  • Clarity of presentation and coherence of arguments

  • Validity of conclusions and implications

4. Reviewer Recommendations

Reviewers provide detailed comments and recommend one of the following decisions:

  • Accept

  • Accept with minor revisions

  • Accept with major revisions

  • Reject

5. Author Revision

Authors are required to revise the manuscript in accordance with reviewers’ comments and submit a revised version along with a point-by-point response. Revised manuscripts may be sent back to reviewers for further evaluation if necessary.

6. Editorial Decision

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision based on reviewers’ recommendations and the quality of revisions submitted by the authors. The editorial decision is communicated to the authors through the journal’s submission system.

7. Copyediting and Proofreading

Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting and proofreading to ensure clarity, consistency, and conformity with journal formatting standards. Authors will be given the opportunity to review and approve the final proofs.

8. Publication

Once finalized, articles are published online and made immediately available as open-access content.

9. Review Timeline

The journal strives to ensure a timely review process, with an average review period of 6–8 weeks, depending on the availability of reviewers and the extent of revisions required.