“The article evaluation process has been prepared in accordance with the guidelines of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors), and the YÖK Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive.
STAGE 1: Preliminary Check and Secretariat Review
The manuscript uploaded to the journal management system by the author is first reviewed technically and stylistically by the Editorial Secretariat and Assistant Editors. At this stage, the scientific content of the manuscript is not evaluated; only the following criteria are checked:
Blind Review Compliance: Have the author's name, affiliation, and contact information been removed from the main text file?
Writing Guidelines: Does the manuscript comply with the journal's template, page layout, font, and paragraph structure?
Citation System: Are the bibliography and in-text citations arranged according to the ISNAD-2 (or APA) system?
Mandatory Documents: Are the Copyright Transfer Form, Ethics Committee Approval (if required), and Title Page uploaded completely?
Language Proficiency: Are the Turkish and English abstracts grammatically sufficient?
Result: Manuscripts that do not meet the formal requirements are returned to the author for correction (time is given to the author) or are rejected directly.
STAGE 2: Plagiarism and Similarity Scan
Manuscripts passing the technical preliminary review are scanned using iThenticate, intihal.net or Turnitin software to verify academic originality.
Bibliography, quotes (text within quotation marks), and matches of fewer than 5 words are excluded.
The maximum acceptable similarity rate is 20%.
Exception: Even if the similarity rate is below 20%, the Editor has the right to reject the work in cases of "patchwriting" or excessive reliance on a single source.
STAGE 3: Editorial (Preliminary) Evaluation (Desk Review)
The manuscript passing the form and plagiarism stages is directed to the relevant Field Editor by the Editor-in-Chief. The Field Editor examines the work in terms of:
Suitability of the subject to the journal's aims and scope.
Validity of the scientific method (methodology).
Potential contribution to the literature and original value.
Decision: The Field Editor has the right to reject studies found scientifically insufficient without initiating the peer review process (Desk Reject). Suitable studies proceed to the peer review process.
STAGE 4: Peer Review Process
The manuscript is sent to at least two independent reviewers who are experts in their fields. Reviewers cannot be from the same institution as the author, and there must be no conflict of interest.
Invitation and Duration: Reviewers are given 7 days to accept the invitation and 15-20 days to complete the evaluation (additional time is granted if necessary).
Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers score the work and write a detailed report under the headings: Title-Abstract Harmony, Methodology, Literature Command, Presentation of Findings, Discussion and Conclusion, Language and Style.
Third Reviewer Rule: If one reviewer votes "Accept/Revise" and the other votes "Reject," the manuscript is sent to a third reviewer for a decision. The third reviewer's decision is decisive.
STAGE 5: Revision Process
In line with the reports from the reviewers, the editor notifies the author of the decision. Three types of decisions may emerge:
Accept: The work is suitable for publication without changes.
Revision Required (Minor or Major):
Minor Revision: Spelling errors or small additions. After the author makes the correction, the Field Editor performs the check.
Major Revision: Root changes in methodology or analysis are required. The revised text is sent back to the same reviewers for approval.
Requirement: The author must upload a "Response to Reviewers File" explaining how they addressed each criticism along with the corrected text.
Reject: The work lacks scientific sufficiency.
STAGE 6: Final Reading and Layout (Production)
Manuscripts that successfully pass the peer review process and receive an "Accept for Publication" decision are prepared for the publication stage.
Proofreading: The final language and spelling check of the manuscript is performed.
Layout: The manuscript is fitted into the journal's corporate graphic design and page layout.
DOI Assignment: A permanent Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number is assigned to the article.
Galley Proof: The layout-completed PDF file is sent to the author for final approval. At this stage, the author is expected to correct only material errors (typos, etc.); major interventions in the text cannot be made.
STAGE 7: Publication
The work for which the author has given final approval (Print Approval):
Is queued according to the journal's publication period (June or December).
Can be opened to access immediately in the electronic environment as "Early View" by the decision of the Editorial Board.