An overview of the peer review process at Practical Science Press, including editorial assessment, review criteria, decisions, and appeals.
Practical Science Press operates a double-blind peer review process, in which neither authors nor reviewers are aware of each other's identities.
All manuscripts undergo an initial editorial assessment for scope, scientific soundness, and compliance with submission requirements. Manuscripts that pass this stage are assigned to a handling editor, who invites independent expert reviewers with relevant subject-matter expertise.
Our target is to provide authors with a first decision within 21 days of submission.
Upon receipt, the editorial office checks that the manuscript meets all formatting and ethical requirements. Manuscripts that fall outside the journal's scope, contain serious methodological flaws, or do not comply with submission guidelines are returned to authors without external review. Authors are notified of the outcome of initial assessment within 2 business days.
Manuscripts that pass initial assessment are sent to independent reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers are asked to evaluate:
Reviewers are asked to return their reports within 14 days.
Based on reviewer reports, the handling editor makes one of the following decisions:
| Decision | Description |
|---|---|
| Accept | Manuscript is accepted with no or minor typographical corrections |
| Minor Revision | Authors must address specific reviewer comments; re-review at editor's discretion |
| Major Revision | Substantial revisions required; manuscript returns to reviewers |
| Reject | Manuscript does not meet the journal's standards for publication |
Authors are notified of the decision by email, accompanied by reviewer comments. Rejected manuscripts may be resubmitted only if the editors have explicitly indicated that a revised version would be considered.
Authors are given 30 days to submit a revised manuscript with a point-by-point response to reviewer comments. Revisions not received within this period will be treated as withdrawals. Final decisions on revised manuscripts are typically communicated within 14 days.
Reviewers are expected to:
We are actively building our reviewer database and welcome applications from researchers at all career stages. To register, please create an account on the Submission Portal (use the Login / Register links at the top of this page) and submit a reviewer application there, including your CV and a list of your primary research areas. If you run into trouble registering, or would prefer to apply by email, contact weopenaccess@gmail.com.
Registered reviewers are contacted on an invitation basis when manuscripts matching their expertise are submitted.
Authors who believe their manuscript was rejected on erroneous grounds may submit a formal appeal to the editorial office within 14 days of the decision by emailing weopenaccess@gmail.com with the subject line "Appeal — [Abbreviated Title]". Appeals must present specific scientific or procedural grounds. Disagreement with reviewers' scientific judgement alone does not constitute grounds for appeal. All appeals are reviewed carefully and responded to by email.