Peer Review Policy

Scope & Manuscript Types
Milky Way Scientific Journal (MWSJ) uses double-blind peer review and accepts only:

  • Research Article (original research)

  • Review Article (systematic or narrative review)

Originality & Prior Dissemination (Not Permitted)
Submissions must be entirely original and must not have been disseminated previously in any form, including but not limited to:

  • Conference outputs: full papers, abstracts, posters, demo papers, invited/recorded talks, or proceedings (published or unpublished);

  • Preprints: arXiv, SSRN, ResearchGate, institutional/personal websites, or any public repository;

  • Other public disclosures: book chapters, working papers, videos, or other formats that disclose the same core results.
    If prior dissemination is identified at any stage, the manuscript may be desk-rejected or, if already published, may be subject to retraction.

Peer Review Model

  • Double-blind: author and reviewer identities are concealed.

  • Minimum two expert reviewers per manuscript. Additional reviewers/statistical checks may be invited when needed.

Editorial & Review Workflow

  1. Initial editorial screening (≤7 days): scope fit, originality, ethics/compliance, formatting.

  2. Reviewer assignment: editors select qualified, independent reviewers with no conflicts of interest (COI).

  3. Review period: typically 2–4 weeks for the first round.

  4. Decision categories: accept, minor revision, major revision, reject.

  5. Revisions: authors submit a point-by-point response and marked-up changes; revised versions may be re-reviewed.

  6. Final checks & production: similarity check, ethics statements, data/materials availability, references, copy-editing, author proof, online publication.

Reviewer Ethics & Conduct

  • Confidentiality: manuscripts and reviews are confidential; content must not be shared.

  • COI: reviewers must decline if any financial, collaborative, or personal conflicts exist.

  • Competence & timeliness: accept assignments only when suitably qualified and available; deliver on time.

  • Integrity: critiques should be objective, evidence-based, and constructive, citing relevant literature where appropriate.

  • Use of AI tools: reviewers must not upload manuscript content to public AI systems. If local tools are used to improve wording, reviewers remain fully responsible for confidentiality and accuracy.

Author Responsibilities During Review

  • Ensure the submission meets manuscript-type and originality rules above.

  • Provide clear methods and sufficient detail for replication; include required ethics/funding/COI statements.

  • Address reviewer comments point-by-point and highlight revisions in the manuscript.

Editorial Independence
Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit and journal policies. The publisher does not influence accept/reject outcomes.

Appeals & Complaints
Authors may appeal by emailing the Editor-in-Chief with a reasoned letter addressing the decision. A fresh editor may reassess the file and, where appropriate, solicit new reviews. Unresolved ethical concerns may be escalated to the publisher.

Misconduct, Corrections, & Retractions
MWSJ follows recognized best practices. Confirmed misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication) may lead to corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, with transparent notices linked to the record.

Data, Materials, & Reproducibility
Where possible, authors should provide data/materials availability statements and cite repositories. Sensitive or restricted data should be clearly justified with access conditions.

Licensing & Sharing (Post-Publication)
Articles are published open access under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. After publication, authors and readers may share the published PDF for non-commercial use with proper citation and a link to the article page. Adaptations/derivatives (including translations for redistribution) are not permitted under this license.

Contact
Editorial Office: info@mwsjournal.com