DOUBLE-BLIND PEER REVIEW POLICY

     In January 2021, all University of St. La Salle (USLS) scholarly journals followed the double-blind review policy. All submissions will undergo such a review which means that both the reviewer and author identities are concealed from the reviewers, and vice versa, throughout the review process.

     The University of St. La Salle’s Editorial Board reserves the right to publish or not publish and informs the authors of its decision within a reasonable timeline. This decision is supported by an evaluation of the manuscripts based on the three stages:

a. The Preliminary Stage: Initial assessment of the Managing Editor that examines the extent of adherence of the paper to guidelines 1-4 for research articles. ( See submission guidelines)

b. The Second Stage: Editor-in-Chief evaluation that qualifies the manuscript based on suitability and acceptability to the journal.

c. The Final Stage: External Reviewer’s Evaluation that reviews the manuscript for its overall technicality and quality.

The recommendation of the reviewers may be:

•Accept paper for publication
•Paper as presently written is acceptable for publication. Needs minor revision
•Paper may be considered for publication only after the proponent has complied with the comments for revisions
•Paper is wholly unacceptable for publication

The review process includes the following:

a) initial Turnitin and Grammarly scans are done upon submission of the manuscript, 10% and below Similarity Index Result; 95% Grammarly General Score

b) initial screening for adherence to submission guidelines 1-4;

c) review of manuscripts by the editorial board;

d) revision of potential papers by authors based on comments/suggestions of the editorial board;

e) sending of approved revised papers for peer review of the external advisory board;

f) review, issuance of reports, evaluation, and recommendations by external experts; and

g) sending of reviews of experts to authors. Papers recommended for publication need to be revised based on comments/suggestions;

h) final Turnitin scanning (consistency of 10% and below Similarity Index Result) and Grammarly ( consistency of 95% score);

i) technical grammar editing

j) manuscript layout

k) copy/proofreading

l) galley proofreading of author/s

m) printing/distribution

Publication and Engagement Office Journal Submission and Operating Guidelines