According to the policy of the Entrepreneurship Journal for Finance and Business (EJFB), a strict Double-Blind Peer Review system is applied. This means the identities of both the author and the reviewer are kept completely anonymous throughout the evaluation process to ensure transparency and prevent external bias.
Below are the comprehensive guidelines our scientific reviewers must follow to ensure the highest quality of the peer-review process:
1. Evaluation Criteria
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Originality and Innovation: Ensure the research provides a novel contribution to the fields of business and economics, addresses a topic of significant academic value, and does not merely replicate previous studies.
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Quality of Analysis: Carefully review the methodology to ensure the methods of data collection and analysis are accurate, reliable, and appropriate for the stated research objectives.
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Conclusions and Results: Verify that the conclusions drawn are directly supported by the data and analysis, and ensure the results are interpreted logically and consistently.
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Relevance to Current Trends: Assess whether the research reflects recent developments in business, finance, and economics, contributing meaningfully to the current body of knowledge.
2. Confidentiality and Impartiality
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Strict Confidentiality: You must maintain the absolute confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts. Sharing any details, data, or ideas from the paper with external parties is strictly prohibited.
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Objective Impartiality: Assess the paper purely on its scientific merit, without being influenced by personal beliefs, theoretical biases, or assumptions about the author's identity or institutional affiliation.
3. Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Even within a double-blind system, a conflict of interest may arise (e.g., recognizing the specific work or dataset). A conflict of interest exists in any situation where your impartiality may be compromised due to personal, professional, or financial relationships.
You must immediately decline the review or notify the editorial team prior to reviewing if you discover:
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A close personal relationship with the suspected authors (such as friendships or animosities).
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A professional relationship, such as working at the same institution or collaborating on recent research.
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A direct financial interest that could be influenced by the publication or rejection of the paper.
In cases where a conflict of interest exists, you will be excused from the review process to protect the integrity of the evaluation.
4. Recommendations and Final Decision
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Detailed Report: Provide a well-considered, polite report containing constructive comments on both the strengths and weaknesses of the paper. Your goal is to help the author improve their work, regardless of the final decision.
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Final Recommendation: You must recommend one of the following actions, supported by clear scientific justification: Accept for Publication, Accept with Minor Revisions, Revise and Resubmit (Major Revisions), or Reject.
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Adherence to Deadlines: Comply strictly with the provided deadlines for submitting your review to ensure a smooth, timely process for the authors.
5. Review Ethics
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Appropriation of Information: You are strictly prohibited from using information, arguments, or data contained in the unpublished manuscript for personal research or commercial purposes.
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Respecting Authors' Rights: Respect the authors' intellectual property. Do not attempt to rewrite the paper or unnecessarily enforce your own stylistic preferences, except where providing constructive feedback to improve clarity and scientific accuracy.
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Maintaining Anonymity: Under no circumstances should you attempt to discover the identity of the author, nor should you sign your name or leave identifying metadata within your review report.
6. Responsibilities Towards the Journal
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Constructive Engagement: Engage with the submitted papers in a constructive, critical manner, always aiming to elevate the overall scientific quality of the work published in EJFB.
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Comprehensive Review: Conduct a thorough and holistic review of the manuscript, paying close attention to all aspects, including literature review, methodology, data presentation, conclusions, and language quality.
By adhering to these guidelines, you help EJFB uphold the integrity, objectivity, and prestige of its scientific evaluations.