Reviewer Policies

  1. Reviewers Guidelines
  2. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to reviewers)

 

1. Reviewers Guidelines

The *Indo-American Journal of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences* values the contributions of its reviewers and recognizes the essential role they play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal. Reviewers are asked to assess the scientific merit of submitted manuscripts, focusing on their originality, relevance, methodology, clarity, and contribution to the field of agricultural and veterinary sciences. 

Reviewers should provide a constructive and objective evaluation, pointing out both strengths and weaknesses in the manuscript. It is important for reviewers to offer suggestions for improvement, including recommendations on the manuscript's structure, clarity, and any areas requiring additional data or analysis. Reviewers should maintain confidentiality about the manuscript and avoid discussing the paper with others during the review process.

Reviewers are asked to assess whether the research complies with ethical standards, especially regarding the treatment of animals or human subjects. Any potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed. The journal expects reviewers to make recommendations based on academic merit, without any personal or professional biases.

The peer review process is **double-blind**, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other. Reviewers should ensure that their comments and feedback are constructive and respectful, contributing to the improvement of the manuscript. Timely reviews are critical to the journal’s publication schedule, and reviewers should aim to provide their feedback within the designated timeframe.

By adhering to these guidelines, reviewers help uphold the integrity, scientific rigor, and high standards of the journal.

 

2. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to reviewers)

The *Indo-American Journal of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences* has a strict policy regarding conflicts of interest (COI) for reviewers to maintain the integrity of the peer review process. Reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may arise from personal, professional, or financial relationships that could influence their evaluation of a manuscript. 

Reviewers must declare any direct or indirect financial relationships with the authors, such as funding sources, consultancy agreements, or commercial interests that might affect the impartiality of their review. If a reviewer has a close personal relationship with the authors, such as a collaborative history or co-authorship of previous papers, this must also be disclosed. If any such conflict is identified, the reviewer is expected to recuse themselves from reviewing the manuscript.

The *Indo-American Journal of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences* requires that reviewers base their decisions solely on the quality and scientific merit of the manuscript, without letting any biases from previous relationships or financial ties influence their judgment. If a reviewer feels that they cannot provide an unbiased review due to a potential conflict of interest, they should decline the review request or notify the editorial team immediately so that an alternative reviewer can be sought.

Reviewers are also encouraged to be transparent about any potential financial stakes or affiliations that could be seen as conflicts, even if they feel they will not affect their review. This transparency ensures that the peer review process remains fair, impartial, and trustworthy.

By following these guidelines and disclosing any conflicts of interest, reviewers help to ensure that the peer review process is ethical, transparent, and dedicated to enhancing the scientific quality of published research.