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Conference outputs: full papers, abstracts, posters, demo papers, invited/recorded talks, or proceedings (published or unpublished);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

  7. Average time from submission to first decision: 4 weeks

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.

  • Reviewers may be acknowledged annually for their contribution to the peer review process.

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)

All articles published in Milky Way Scientific Journal are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction, and adaptation of the work in any medium or format, including for commercial purposes, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the source.

Users must provide a link to the license and indicate if changes were made.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Contact
Editorial Office: editor@mwsjournal.com