Peer review is the system used to assess the quality of a manuscript before it is published and is an integral part of scientific publishing confirming the validity of the manuscript. It is to ensure that only good science is published and is carried out by almost all reputable scientific journals, The RMJ being no different. Independent researchers in the relevant research area assess submitted manuscripts for originality, validity and significance to help editors determine whether a manuscript should be published in the journal or not. By undergoing peer review, manuscripts become more robust, easier to read and more useful.
How does it work?
When a manuscript is submitted to us, it is assessed to see if it meets the criteria for submission. If it does, our editorial team selects potential peer reviewers within the field of research to peer-review the manuscript and makes recommendations.
The Editor first evaluates all manuscripts. It is rare, but it is possible for an exceptional manuscript to be accepted at this stage. Manuscripts rejected at this stage are insufficiently original, have serious scientific flaws, have poor grammar or English language, or are outside the aims and scope of the journal. Those that meet the minimum criteria are normally passed on to at least 2 experts for review. The RMJ followsdouble-blind system where the reviewers do not know the names of the authors, and the authors do not know who reviewed their manuscript.
During the peer review process, we look for:
- Scope: Is the article appropriate for our publication?
- Novelty: Is this original material distinct from previous publications?
- Validity: Is the study well designed and executed?
- Data: Are the data reported, analyzed, and interpreted correctly?
- Clarity: Are the ideas expressed clearly, concisely, and logically?
- Compliance: Are all ethical and journal requirements met?
- Advancement: Is this a significant contribution to the field?
