Peer-Review Policy

The International Journal of Counseling and Applied Psychology (IJCAP) applies a rigorous double-blind peer-review process to ensure the quality, originality, and integrity of all published manuscripts. Both the reviewers and authors remain anonymous throughout the review process.

1. Initial Screening

  • All submissions are first reviewed by the editorial office to check compliance with the journal’s aims, scope, formatting requirements, and ethical standards.
  • Manuscripts that do not meet the basic criteria may be rejected without external review (desk rejection).

2. Review Process

  • Manuscripts passing the initial screening are assigned to at least two independent reviewers who are experts in the relevant field.
  • Reviewers are selected based on expertise, research background, and absence of conflicts of interest.
  • Reviews must be conducted in a timely, objective, and constructive manner.
  • If reviewers’ recommendations differ significantly, the Editor-in-Chief may assign an additional reviewer.

3. Review Criteria

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on:

  • Originality and significance of the research.
  • Methodological rigor and clarity of presentation.
  • Relevance to counseling, educational psychology, or applied psychology.
  • Contribution to theory, practice, or policy.
  • Ethical compliance, including research approvals and informed consent (if applicable).

4. Editorial Decision

  • Possible editorial decisions include:
    • Accept (with or without minor revisions)
    • Revise and resubmit (major revisions required)
    • Reject (not suitable for publication in IJCAP)
  • Final decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the editorial board, based on reviewers’ reports.
  • Authors are notified of the decision along with anonymous reviewers’ comments.

5. Review Timeline

  • The standard peer-review process takes 4–8 weeks, depending on reviewers’ availability and the complexity of the manuscript.
  • The editorial office strives to provide timely feedback while ensuring a thorough evaluation.

6. Confidentiality and Ethics

  • All manuscripts and review reports are treated as confidential documents.
  • Reviewers must not share, copy, or use any content under review for personal advantage.
  • Reviewers and editors must declare any conflicts of interest before participating in the review process.

7. Transparency and Accountability

  • The journal follows COPE guidelines in handling disputes, ethical concerns, or appeals.
  • Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions by providing a clear justification, which will be considered by the editorial board.