Editorial Policies and Responsibilities

Journal of Desert Research uses single-blind peer review. Reviewers know the authors’ identities, while authors do not know the reviewers’ identities. Manuscripts are handled through initial assessment, external review, final decision, and editorial production. Editorial decisions are based on academic quality and the review reports.

1 Manuscript Review and Publication

1. Initial assessment. The Editorial Office assesses whether a manuscript falls within the journal’s scope and meets its basic academic standards, submission requirements, and publication ethics requirements. Manuscripts outside the scope, with clear scientific deficiencies, or with confirmed misconduct may be rejected at this stage. Suitable manuscripts proceed to external review.

2. External peer review. The Editorial Office invites at least two experts in the relevant field who have no conflicts of interest to independently review the manuscript. Reviewers are provided with the manuscript and author information. Authors must provide accurate and complete author information and related materials in accordance with the submission requirements. Reviewers assess scientific quality, originality, methods, reliability, and academic value. Additional review or further review of a revised manuscript may be arranged when necessary.

3. Revision and final decision. The Editorial Office communicates review comments to the authors, who submit a revised manuscript and a response to each comment. The Editor-in-Chief or an authorized academic editor decides whether to accept the manuscript, request revision followed by further review, or reject it, based on the reviewers’ reports, the revisions made, and the journal’s requirements. Review reports inform the decision and do not guarantee acceptance.

4. Editorial production and publication. Accepted manuscripts undergo editing and proofreading under the journal’s procedures. Authors must check proofs and respond promptly. Substantive changes to results, conclusions, or authorship require editorial approval and may require further review. The Editorial Office manages the publication schedule to ensure that the journal is published on time.

2 Responsibilities of Editors and Editorial Board Members

1. Fair assessment. Editors must assess manuscripts on their significance, originality, methodological reliability, clarity, and relevance to the journal. Authors must not receive different treatment because of their institution, nationality, gender, age, or other factors unrelated to academic assessment.

2. Editorial independence. Decisions must be based on academic standards and remain free from improper influence by commercial interests, advertising, funding, or personal relationships. Editors must not require unrelated citations as a condition of acceptance or manipulate journal citation metrics.

3. Selection of reviewers. Editors must select reviewers with suitable expertise who have no conflicts of interest and can assess the manuscript objectively. Editors must verify reviewers’ identities as needed. Author recommendations and requests to exclude reviewers are considered as suggestions. The Editorial Office makes the final selection independently.

4. Timely handling and communication. Editors must handle manuscripts in a timely manner, promptly communicate reviewers’ comments to authors, and explain editorial decisions. Insulting, discriminatory, or defamatory comments must be handled appropriately, with an additional review arranged where necessary.

5. Confidentiality and information protection. Editors must protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and information about authors and reviewers. Such materials and information may be disclosed only to persons who need access to them for manuscript handling. Unpublished material must not be used for personal research or other purposes without permission.

6. Conflicts of interest. Editors and editorial board members must disclose any collaborative, supervisory, financial, or other relationships with authors that could compromise impartial manuscript handling. In such cases, they must recuse themselves, and the manuscript must be handled by an editor without conflicts of interest.

7. Research integrity and correction. Editors must examine allegations of misconduct and cooperate with necessary institutional investigations. Concerns about published content must be addressed through timely corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions as warranted by the evidence.

8. Review quality and records. The Editorial Office must maintain and update reviewer information, monitor the quality and timeliness of reviews, retain records of manuscript handling, peer review, and the handling of ethical concerns, and provide clear guidance to authors, reviewers, and editorial board members.

3 Submissions by Editors, Board Members, and Guest Editors

Submissions by journal editors, editorial board members, and guest editors are subject to the same academic standards and review procedures as other submissions. These individuals must not participate in handling their own manuscripts, selecting reviewers, or making acceptance decisions. Independent review must be arranged by an editor without conflicts of interest. Where the Editor-in-Chief is an author or an independent final decision could otherwise be compromised, the decision must be made by an authorized academic editor without conflicts of interest.

4 Special Issues and Thematic Collections

Manuscripts submitted to special issues or collections must follow the journal’s publication ethics and editorial policies and undergo the same peer review and quality assessment as regular submissions. Invited guest editors may help develop themes, solicit submissions, and organize review within the authority granted by the Editorial Office. Their work is supervised by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Office, and they must recuse themselves where conflicts arise. The Editor-in-Chief has overall responsibility for the journal’s academic content, including special issues and collections.

5 Handling of Misconduct and Integrity of the Published Record

The Editorial Office investigates suspected misconduct and takes action according to the nature of the issue and the findings. Corrections, expressions of concern, retractions, author appeals, reader complaints, and discussion after publication are handled under the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement. Acceptance or publication does not prevent further investigation of relevant concerns.

6 Commercial Activities and Editorial Decisions

Any advertising, sponsorship, or other commercial cooperation must remain independent of manuscript assessment and editorial decisions. Such content must be clearly identified and distinguishable from academic articles. Any publication-related fees must be clearly stated on the official website and must not affect academic assessment or acceptance decisions.