Peer Review Policy

Crossroads is a multidisciplinary scholarly journal dedicated to fostering academic discourse across diverse fields of knowledge. It is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and quality in its peer review and publication processes. Our practices align with the ethical guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and comply with indexing requirements of Scopus and Web of Science.

Overview of Review Process

Submissions to Crossroads undergo a double-blind peer review, ensuring anonymity between authors and reviewers. Manuscripts are assessed first for scope alignment, academic integrity (including similarity/plagiarism check), and formal requirements by the Editorial Team before they proceed to external review. The typical review process spans 4 to 6 weeks, with expedited handling available in specific cases. The average time from submission to first decision is 20–30 days.

Peer Review Workflow

  1. Manuscript Submission: Authors submit manuscripts through the journal’s online system and receive an automated confirmation.

  2. Initial Screening: The Chief Editor and/or Section Editors conduct a preliminary assessment for thematic relevance, formatting, originality, and ethical compliance (including plagiarism screening via recognized tools like iThenticate).

  3. Reviewer Assignment: If deemed suitable, the manuscript is assigned to at least two independent experts for double-blind peer review.

  4. Review Process: Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on criteria of originality, methodological rigor, theoretical contribution, ethical compliance, clarity of presentation, and significance to the field.

  5. Editorial Decision: Based on the reviewers' reports, the Chief Editor issues one of the following decisions: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.

  6. Author Revision: Authors revise the manuscript in light of reviewers’ feedback and submit a response letter detailing changes and justifications.

  7. Re-review (if necessary): Revised manuscripts may be re-sent to original reviewers for further evaluation.

  8. Final Decision & Production: Once accepted, manuscripts are sent to the Copy Editor, Layout Editor, and Proof Editor before final publication.

Review Criteria

  • Originality and Novelty

  • Methodological Soundness

  • Theoretical Contribution

  • Ethical Compliance

  • Clarity, Structure, and Style

  • Relevance to the Aims and Scope of the Journal

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers for Crossroads are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic and ethical integrity:

  1. Expertise: Review only within their subject area expertise.

  2. Confidentiality: Treat all manuscripts as confidential; do not share or discuss with others.

  3. Objectivity: Evaluate manuscripts impartially, avoiding personal or ideological bias.

  4. Constructiveness: Provide detailed, respectful, and evidence-based feedback.

  5. Timeliness: Submit reviews within the agreed timeline or promptly notify the Editor if unable to do so.

  6. Conflict of Interest: Declare any potential conflicts (financial, institutional, collaborative, or personal) and decline to review if necessary.

  7. Reporting Misconduct: Inform the Editorial Office of suspected plagiarism, data fabrication, or other ethical issues.

Revisions and Reassessment

  • Authors must submit a revision summary detailing responses to each reviewer comment.

  • Revised manuscripts are typically reassessed by the original reviewers.

  • In cases of significant divergence in reviewer opinions, a third reviewer may be consulted.

Ethical Considerations

The journal follows COPE’s Core Practices, including:

  • Handling of Misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, citation manipulation, unethical research practices)

  • Author Dispute Resolution

  • Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

  • Transparency in Authorship and Contributor Roles (aligned with CRediT taxonomy)

Confidentiality and Anonymity

  • Reviewer identities are not disclosed to authors.

  • Manuscript content and editorial decisions remain confidential prior to publication.

  • All editorial and reviewer correspondence is archived securely.

Additional Notes

  • Crossroads does not accept manuscripts from reviewers who have recent (past 3 years) co-authorship or institutional affiliation with the submitting authors.

  • The Editorial Office performs periodic audits of reviewer quality and performance.

  • All manuscripts are indexed and archived following final publication.