Reviewer Guidelines

Reviewers play an important role in maintaining the quality, credibility, and academic integrity of publications in International Journal of Health, Economics, and Social Science (IJHESS). The journal highly appreciates the contribution of reviewers in evaluating manuscripts objectively, professionally, and ethically through the peer-review process.

The following guidelines are intended to assist reviewers in conducting effective and constructive manuscript evaluations.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, fair, and constructive evaluations

  • Maintain confidentiality of all manuscripts under review

  • Evaluate manuscripts based on academic merit and scientific contribution

  • Submit review reports within the specified review period

  • Inform the editor about any potential conflicts of interest

Reviewers should decline review invitations if:

  • The manuscript is outside their area of expertise

  • They are unable to complete the review on time

  • A conflict of interest exists with the authors or research

Confidentiality

All manuscripts received for review are confidential documents. Reviewers must not:

  • Share manuscripts with others without editorial permission

  • Use unpublished information for personal advantage

  • Upload manuscript content to public AI systems or external platforms that may compromise confidentiality

Manuscript information may only be used for the purpose of scholarly review.

Review Criteria

Reviewers are encouraged to evaluate manuscripts based on the following aspects:

Originality and Novelty

  • Does the manuscript provide new insights or contributions to the field?

  • Is the topic relevant and significant?

Relevance to Journal Scope

  • Is the manuscript suitable for the focus and scope of IJHESS?

Title and Abstract

  • Are the title and abstract clear, concise, and representative of the study?

Introduction

  • Is the research background clearly explained?

  • Are objectives and research problems adequately presented?

Methodology

  • Is the research design appropriate and clearly described?

  • Are methods valid and reliable?

f. Results and Discussion

  • Are the findings presented clearly?

  • Does the discussion adequately interpret the results?

  • Are conclusions supported by the data?

References

  • Are references relevant, recent, and sufficient?

  • Are citations properly written?

Language and Presentation

  • Is the manuscript well-organized and understandable?

  • Is the language academically appropriate?

Reviewer Recommendations

Reviewers may provide one of the following recommendations:

  • Accept without revision

  • Accept with minor revisions

  • Accept with major revisions

  • Reject

Reviewers are encouraged to provide detailed comments and suggestions to help authors improve manuscript quality.

Ethical Considerations

Reviewers should report to the editor if they identify:

  • Plagiarism or duplicate publication

  • Fabricated or falsified data

  • Ethical concerns in the research

  • Significant similarity with previously published works

Reviews should be conducted objectively without discrimination based on:

  • Nationality

  • Gender

  • Institutional affiliation

  • Religion

  • Political views

  • Personal background

Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence their evaluation, including:

  • Personal relationships with authors

  • Institutional connections

  • Financial interests

  • Collaborative research relationships

If a conflict exists, reviewers should decline the review assignment.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Reviewers may use AI-assisted tools only for limited technical support such as grammar checking or language assistance. However:

  • AI tools must not replace human judgment

  • Manuscript confidentiality must be protected

  • Manuscripts should not be uploaded to public AI systems

Reviewers remain fully responsible for the content and quality of their review reports.

Review Quality

Constructive review reports should:

  • Be clear, respectful, and professional

  • Provide specific comments and recommendations

  • Focus on improving the scientific quality of the manuscript

  • Avoid personal criticism toward authors

The editorial board of International Journal of Health, Economics, and Social Science (IJHESS) and the publisher, Universitas Muhammadiyah Palu, greatly appreciate the valuable contribution of reviewers in supporting high-quality scholarly publishing and academic integrity.