• JIST is a double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access, and multidisciplinary academic journal issued twice a year. Submitted manuscripts are first assessed by the editorial board and only those articles that passed this initial process are sent to two anonymous reviewers for evaluation and peer-reviewing. In case both of the reviews are positive a manuscript is considered for publication; if both of them are negative, the manuscript is rejected and not published. If one of the reviews is positive and the other negative, then the manuscript is sent to a third reviewer; if this third reviewer is positive the manuscript is published, and if not the manuscript is rejected. However, the editorial board of JIST has the final decision to publish a manuscript after reviewing.
• Fair Play: JIST gives unbiased consideration to all manuscripts, judging each on its own academic merits without regard to the race, religion, nationality, sex, political philosophy, seniority, or institutional affiliation of the author.
• Confidentiality: The editor and the members of the editorial board should not disclose any information about a manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, and other editorial advisers.
• Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Unpublished material disclosed in a manuscript submitted to JIST must not be used in the research of the members of the editorial board without the consent of the author.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF PEER-REVIEWERS

• Contribution to Editorial Decision: Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and may also help the authors in improving their work. JIST sends the revision requests to the authors and expects them to comply with the reviewers’ suggestions. JIST may reject an article on the ground that the revisions requested by the reviewers and the editorial board are not undertaken by the authors.
• Promptness: Normally JIST gives reviewers 15 days to review an article but this can be extended when and if necessary. Reviewers should only agree to review manuscripts for which they have the subject expertise required to carry out a proper assessment in a timely manner and should notify the editorial office of JIST immediately if they cannot fulfill this task so alternative reviewers can be assigned.
• Confidentiality: Reviewers should respect the confidentiality of peer review. They should not reveal any details of a manuscript or its review, during or after the assessment process to anyone except if authorized by the editör of JIST. Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in a reviewer’s own research without the consent of the author.
• Standards of Objectivity: Reviewers should be objective and constructive in their review. Decisions should solely depend on academic merit and relevance to the subject and should be expressed by supporting arguments. Any personal attacks against the authors are unacceptable. Reviewers should not reject or approve an article without any necessary explanation.
• Acknowledgement of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument has been previously reported should be accompanied by the relevant citation. A reviewer should also call to the editors’ attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.
• Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. A reviewer should not consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF AUTHORS

• Reporting Standards: Authors should present an accurate account of the research performed, and offer an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately. The manuscript should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Dishonest, false, or incompetent statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.
• Originality and Plagiarism: Authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works. The work and words of others must be appropriately cited or quoted. Plagiarism in all its forms including self-plagiarism (text-recycling) is unethical and unacceptable. If JIST identifies plagiarism in an article, it is immediately removed from the evaluation process. If identified only after publication, JIST notifies relevant authorities of the situation.
• Multiple, Redundant and Concurrent Publication: The manuscript should offer new, original insights or interpretations that have not been published before and are not under consideration for publication in another journal. Submitting an article already published in any form and submitting the same article to multiple journals are unethical and unacceptable.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Authors must properly acknowledge the works of others. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of their work.
• Authorship: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the article. All those who have made a significant contribution should be listed as co-authors. Others who have contributed in certain aspects should be listed in the acknowledgment section. All co-authors and responsible authorities should have approved the submitted version.
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors should declare all funding sources and any actual or potential conflicts including any financial, personal, or other relationships with other people and organizations.
• Fundamental Errors in Published Works: Authors are obliged to promptly notify the editor of JIST to retract the article or publish an appropriate erratum if they discover a significant error or inaccuracy in their published works.