Publishing Process

Journal of Educational Research (AJER)

The Journal of Educational Research (AJER) implements a rigorous, transparent, and ethical editorial workflow to ensure that every published article meets international standards of scientific quality, originality, and research integrity. All manuscripts are processed through a structured editorial system based on the double-blind peer review model, ensuring impartiality, confidentiality, and academic excellence throughout the publication process. Editorial decisions are made solely on the basis of scholarly merit, methodological rigor, originality, and relevance to the journal's aims and scope. (DOI)

Editorial Workflow

Step 1 — Online Submission

Authors submit manuscripts electronically through the AJER Online Journal System (OJS). Before submission, authors are required to ensure that the manuscript complies with the journal template, ethical requirements, metadata completeness, and APA 7th Edition referencing style.

Estimated Processing Time: 1 Day

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Step 2 — Initial Editorial Assessment

The Editorial Office conducts a preliminary evaluation to determine whether the manuscript:

  • falls within the journal's scope;

  • complies with the Author Guidelines;

  • meets formatting requirements;

  • contains complete metadata;

  • satisfies basic publication ethics requirements.

Manuscripts failing this assessment may be returned to authors before peer review.

Estimated Processing Time: 3–5 Days

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Step 3 — Similarity Screening

Every submission undergoes plagiarism detection using similarity-check software. The Editorial Team evaluates textual similarity, citation practices, duplicate publication, and potential self-plagiarism.

Only manuscripts meeting the journal's originality standards proceed to the next stage.

Estimated Processing Time: 2–3 Days

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Step 4 — Assignment to Handling Editor

The Editor-in-Chief assigns each manuscript to an appropriate Handling Editor according to the manuscript's subject area and expertise.

The assigned editor performs an academic evaluation before external review.

Estimated Processing Time: 2 Days

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Step 5 — Double-Blind Peer Review

Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with expertise relevant to the manuscript.

Reviewers assess:

  • originality;

  • significance;

  • theoretical contribution;

  • literature quality;

  • research design;

  • methodology;

  • data analysis;

  • discussion;

  • conclusions;

  • references;

  • academic writing quality.

Neither authors nor reviewers know each other's identities during the review process.

Estimated Processing Time: 4–6 Weeks

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Step 6 — Editorial Decision

Based on reviewers' recommendations, the Handling Editor submits a recommendation to the Editor-in-Chief.

Possible editorial decisions include:

  • Accept

  • Minor Revision

  • Major Revision

  • Reject

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final publication decision.

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Step 7 — Author Revision

Authors revise the manuscript according to reviewers' comments and submit:

  • revised manuscript;

  • detailed response to reviewers;

  • revised supplementary files (if applicable).

Estimated Processing Time

  • Minor Revision: 7–14 Days

  • Major Revision: 14–30 Days

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Step 8 — Final Editorial Evaluation

The revised manuscript undergoes a final scientific evaluation by the Handling Editor and, where necessary, by the original reviewers to ensure that all concerns have been adequately addressed.

Additional revision rounds may be requested if required.

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Step 9 — Copyediting

Accepted manuscripts enter professional copyediting.

This stage includes:

  • language editing;

  • grammar;

  • consistency;

  • reference verification;

  • formatting;

  • metadata verification.

Estimated Processing Time: 3–5 Days

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Step 10 — Production and Layout Editing

The Production Team prepares the final publication version.

Activities include:

  • page composition;

  • figure optimization;

  • table formatting;

  • DOI registration;

  • XML metadata preparation;

  • final quality control.

Estimated Processing Time: 2–3 Days

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Step 11 — Author Proof

Authors receive page proofs for final verification.

Only typographical corrections are permitted during this stage.

Estimated Processing Time: 2–5 Days

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Step 12 — Online Publication

After successful completion of all production stages, the article is published in the scheduled issue and becomes permanently accessible through the AJER website with complete bibliographic metadata and DOI registration.

 

Editorial Workflow Diagram

Online Submission
        │
        ▼
Initial Editorial Assessment
        │
        ▼
Similarity Screening
        │
        ▼
Handling Editor Assignment
        │
        ▼
Double-Blind Peer Review
        │
        ▼
Editorial Decision
        │
 ┌──────┼───────────────┐
 │      │               │
 ▼      ▼               ▼
Accept  Minor Rev.   Major Rev.
 │        │               │
 └────────┴───────────────┘
             │
             ▼
 Final Editorial Evaluation
             │
             ▼
       Copyediting
             │
             ▼
    Production & Layout
             │
             ▼
        Author Proof
             │
             ▼
     Online Publication

 

Estimated Editorial Timeline

Editorial Stage Estimated Time
Online Submission Verification 1 Day
Initial Editorial Assessment 3–5 Days
Similarity Screening 2–3 Days
Handling Editor Assignment 2 Days
Double-Blind Peer Review 4–6 Weeks
Author Revision 1–4 Weeks
Final Editorial Evaluation 3–5 Days
Copyediting 3–5 Days
Production & Layout 2–3 Days
Author Proof 2–5 Days
Average Total Processing Time 8–12 Weeks

 

Editorial Integrity Statement

AJER does not guarantee the acceptance of any submitted manuscript. Editorial decisions are based exclusively on scientific quality, originality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, and relevance to the journal's scope. Editorial evaluation is conducted independently and is not influenced by authors' nationality, institutional affiliation, funding source, gender, religion, or financial considerations. Throughout the publication process, AJER adheres to internationally recognized principles of editorial transparency, research integrity, confidentiality, and fairness in scholarly publishing.