Peer Review Policy

Next Gen Social Sciences (NGSS) follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure fairness, objectivity, and the highest standards of scholarly publishing. In this process, the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept strictly confidential to eliminate potential bias.

Review Process

1. Initial Screening

All submitted manuscripts are first reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or an assigned Associate Editor to assess:

  • Relevance to the journal’s scope.

  • Originality of the work.

  • Compliance with formatting and submission guidelines.

2. Plagiarism Check

Before peer review, manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using Turnitin or iThenticate to ensure originality. Only manuscripts meeting the journal’s maximum 10% similarity threshold proceed to review.

3. Double-Blind Peer Review

  • Each manuscript is sent to at least two independent expert reviewers with expertise in the relevant field.

  • Reviewers evaluate the paper’s:

    • Quality and clarity of writing.

    • Soundness of research methodology.

    • Significance of findings and contribution to the field.

    • Appropriateness of references and contextual grounding.

  • Reviewer comments and recommendations are sent to the authors for revision, with the anonymity of both parties maintained throughout the process.

4. Decision

Based on reviewer feedback, the editorial decision will be one of:

  • Accept – No further changes required.

  • Minor Revision – Small changes needed before acceptance.

  • Major Revision – Substantial changes required; manuscript resubmitted for review.

  • Reject – Not suitable for publication in NGSS.

Timeline

  • Initial decision: Average 15 days from submission to first editorial decision.

  • Review completion: May vary depending on reviewer availability and extent of revisions.

  • Final publication: Subject to timely completion of revisions and editorial checks.

Reviewer Ethics

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding the manuscript and its content.

  • Avoid any potential conflict of interest.

  • Provide constructive, evidence-based feedback.

  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.

NGSS is committed to a transparent, fair, and rigorous peer review process that upholds the credibility and trust of the academic community.