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Step‑by‑Step Guide for Reviewers

International Journal of Engineering, Technology, Research, and Business Administration (IJETRBA)

1. Invitation to Review

Upon receiving an invitation to peer review for IJETRBA, reviewers are provided with the manuscript abstract to help determine suitability and availability. Reviewers are encouraged to respond promptly to avoid delays in the editorial process.

At this stage, reviewers must declare any potential conflicts of interest. If a conflict exists, the invitation should be declined.

2. Review Report Formats

IJETRBA may use either informal or formal review structures, depending on the submission type and editorial requirements.

Informal Review Structure

In some cases, reviewers are asked for an overall evaluation of the manuscript’s merits. Reviewers may structure their feedback based on:

• Their academic expertise
• Prior reviewing experience
• Examples of previous IJETRBA reviews

Formal Review Structure

In other cases, reviewers may be asked to:

• Respond to specific evaluation questions
• Rate the manuscript using defined criteria or scorecards

Reviewers should follow any journal‑specific instructions provided in the review system.

In both formats, reviewers should expect to submit:

• Comments to authors
• Confidential comments to editors (if necessary)

3. First Read‑Through (Initial Assessment)

The first read‑through is a skim reading intended to provide an overall impression of the manuscript.

Reviewers should consider:

• Is the research question clear, relevant, and significant?
• Does the study add originality or new insight?
• Are the conclusions supported by evidence?
• Are tables and figures relevant and useful?

This stage helps reviewers identify potential major flaws early.

4. Identifying Major Flaws

Examples of major flaws include:

• Conclusions contradicting presented data
• Use of outdated or discredited methodology
• Insufficient or unreliable data
• Fundamental methodological weaknesses
• Unaddressed contradictions or inconsistencies

If major flaws are detected, reviewers should document them clearly with supporting reasoning or references.

5. Drafting the Initial Review Summary

After the first reading, reviewers should draft:

• Paragraph 1: Summary of the research question, aims, methods, and conclusions
• Paragraph 2: Overall contribution, novelty, and relevance

This helps editors understand the reviewer’s perspective and assists authors in evaluating clarity and focus.

6. Second Read‑Through (Detailed Review)

If the manuscript is publishable in principle, a second, detailed reading should be conducted.

During this stage, reviewers should examine:

• Logical flow and coherence of arguments
• Accuracy of data interpretation
• Alignment between aims, methods, results, and conclusions
• Clarity of language and presentation

Reviewers are encouraged to:

• Group similar comments
• Note page and line numbers
• Focus on substance rather than copy‑editing

7. Section‑by‑Section Evaluation

Introduction

• Contextualizes the research
• Identifies knowledge gaps
• Establishes originality and relevance
• Clearly states research objectives

Materials and Methods

• Sufficient detail for reproducibility
• Ethical standards observed
• Appropriate controls, sampling, and analysis
• Methodological rigor

Results and Discussion

• Clear presentation of data
• Appropriate statistical or analytical treatment
• Critical interpretation supported by literature
• Integration of findings into existing knowledge

Conclusions

• Evidence‑based and aligned with stated aims
• Clearly summarizes contributions
• Avoids unsupported claims

Figures, Tables, and Data

• Proper labeling and clarity
• Plausibility of results
• Adequate and consistent data
• No unexplained manipulation

References

• Accurate and recent
• Adequate and balanced
• Minimal self‑citation
• Fair recognition of prior work

8. Plagiarism and Ethical Concerns

If plagiarism or duplicate publication is suspected:

• Notify the editor confidentially
• Do not directly accuse the author
• Editors will investigate using appropriate tools

IJETRBA follows COPE ethical guidelines in handling such concerns.

9. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Awareness

Reviewers may comment on whether:

• The title reflects the study accurately
• The abstract highlights key findings
• Keywords improve discoverability

Good SEO enhances visibility and citation impact.

10. Structuring the Review Report

Unless otherwise specified, reviewers are encouraged to structure their report as follows:

Summary

• Overview of the study
• Significance and originality
• Strengths and overall quality

Major Issues

• Methodological or conceptual weaknesses
• Missing literature or ethical concerns
• Required major revisions

Minor Issues

• Clarity issues
• Citation corrections
• Minor inconsistencies or errors

11. Tone and Professional Conduct

Reviewers should:

• Be objective, constructive, and respectful
• Focus criticism on the work, not the author
• Clearly justify recommendations
• Write for an international audience

12. Confidential Comments to Editors

This section should be used for:

• Ethical concerns
• Plagiarism suspicion
• Conflict of interest disclosures
• Final recommendation (if required by the journal)

Comments should remain professional and fair.

13. Recommendations

Reviewers will typically select one of the following:

• Accept
• Minor Revision
• Major Revision
• Reject

Acceptance

State clearly why the manuscript meets journal standards.

Revision

Specify required changes clearly and systematically.

Rejection

Provide constructive feedback that can help authors improve future work.

Commitment to Quality

By participating as a reviewer for IJETRBA, reviewers support the integrity, quality, and advancement of research in engineering, technology, and business administration.