The Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences of Siirt University is dedicated to disseminating scholarly work that is original, credible, and contributes meaningfully to its academic field. The integrity and quality of the peer review process are essential to fulfilling this commitment. The following guidelines outline the key responsibilities of reviewers, expectations for participation, standards for conducting effective reviews, and ethical considerations related to peer evaluation.

The journal employs a double-blind peer review system, which ensures that neither the identities of the authors nor those of the reviewers are disclosed to one another. This model promotes impartial and unbiased assessments.

Reviewers are chosen from among experts who hold a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and have a demonstrated record of academic publications. Reviewer selection is based on both subject-matter expertise and scholarly engagement. For reviewers based in Türkiye, academic profiles are typically reviewed via the YÖK Academic database, while international reviewers are identified through platforms such as Publons or similar academic indexing services.

To safeguard the impartiality of the review process, the editorial board considers several criteria when selecting reviewers, including their independence from the authors and lack of any institutional or personal conflicts of interest.Criteria for Reviewer Selection:

• Relevant Expertise: The reviewer must have expertise in the subject matter and methodology of the manuscript.

• Experience and Publications: Reviewers should have recent and relevant academic contributions to the field.

• Objectivity and Independence: Reviewers must be free of any connections to the authors or affiliated institutions to avoid conflicts of interest.

• Objectivity: Reviews must be based solely on academic merit, free from personal bias. Feedback should be reasoned and supported with evidence.

• Editorial Contribution: Reviewer feedback assists editors in decision-making and provides authors with constructive suggestions to improve their manuscripts.

• Declining a Review: If a reviewer feels unqualified or unable to complete the review within the given time, they should inform the editor and decline the invitation.

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat the manuscript as confidential and must not contact the authors directly. Privileged information or ideas obtained through the review process must not be used for personal advantage.

• Ethical Sensitivity: Reviewers must report suspected ethical issues such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or authorship manipulation to the editor.

• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must not accept review assignments if there is any conflict of interest with the authors or their institutions.

• Citation Suggestions: If reviewers recommend citations to their own (or co-authors') work, such suggestions must be scientifically justified and relevant.

When evaluating a manuscript, reviewers should consider the following:

• Does the article present new and significant findings?

Does the manuscript contribute to the field and align with existing literature?

• Does the abstract accurately reflect the content?

The abstract should clearly and correctly summarize the study's main points and findings.

• Are the methods well described and appropriate?

The methodological approach must be clearly explained and reproducible.

• Are interpretations and conclusions supported by the results?

Conclusions should logically follow from the data and evidence provided.

• Is the article well-integrated with the existing literature?

The manuscript should sufficiently reference relevant prior studies in the field.

• Is the language academically sound and clear?

The writing should be clear and at an academic level appropriate for publication.

• Do the abstract and keywords accurately represent the article?

They should clearly define the scope and focus of the study to aid reader expectations.

Editor Guide

Selection and Qualifications of Editors
The Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences, Siirt University, is committed to working with editors and section editors who adhere to the journal's publishing policy, ethical principles, and academic standards. Editors and section editors are selected from among individuals with a doctoral degree, expertise in their field, and prior experience in academic publishing. These individuals are expected to have the scientific background necessary to contribute to the journal's aims and scope and to have previously served as reviewers or editors for academic journals.

Each editor and section editor must act in accordance with the principles of academic impartiality, scientific integrity, and publication ethics. Evaluation processes must be conducted with fairness, transparency, and scholarly merit as primary criteria. Section editors evaluate assigned manuscripts for scientific content and contribution to the field; when necessary, they may suggest referees and provide opinions on whether the manuscript should proceed to the review process.

Membership in the Turkish Editors Workshop Group
To support the professional development of its editors, the journal is a member of the Turkish Editors Workshop Group. This membership allows editors to participate in current discussions in academic publishing, share experiences with peers, and collaborate in finding solutions to editorial challenges. The journal encourages and values such professional development initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities of Editors
Editors are directly responsible for maintaining and enhancing the academic quality of the journal. Their responsibilities include:

Coordination of the Peer Review Process: Editors ensure that all manuscripts are evaluated for scientific validity, impartiality, and transparency. The entire publishing process is conducted under a double-blind peer review system.

Reviewer Selection and Assignment: Each manuscript is sent to reviewers who have expertise in the subject matter, no conflict of interest, and the ability to conduct an independent scholarly review. Editors are responsible for managing this process diligently.

Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all information related to manuscripts under review until publication. This includes the identities of authors, reviewers, and the contents of all correspondence.

Impartiality and Scientific Evaluation: Editors evaluate submissions solely based on their academic content. Author identity, gender, ethnicity, religion, or political views must not influence editorial decisions.

Publication Decisions: Final publication decisions are made by the editor and the Editorial Board based on reviewer comments, author responses, and the journal's publication policy. If positive reviewer reports are overruled, the editor must clearly and justifiably explain the rationale to the author.

Publication Process and Editorial Workflow
All manuscripts submitted to the Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences, Siirt University, are first subject to preliminary evaluation by the editor-in-chief and editors. Submissions aligned with the journal's publication principles are assigned to the relevant section editors. Section editors conduct a preliminary editorial review prior to the peer review process, evaluating the manuscript's contribution to the field, scientific originality, ethical compliance, and structural integrity.

Manuscripts are reviewed under a double-blind peer review system by at least two independent reviewers. After the peer review process, the assigned section editor performs a final editorial evaluation based on the reviewers' reports, reassessing the manuscript's scientific and ethical compliance. This final evaluation is documented and archived in a written form.

For manuscripts written primarily in English, the English Language and Literature section editor or English language editor performs a post-review evaluation in the role of a reviewer, focusing on academic language proficiency, coherence, and adherence to writing conventions. This evaluation is also recorded and archived.

Throughout the publication process, editors are expected to:

Provide timely and clear communication to authors,

Share reviewer reports promptly and coordinate the re-review of revised manuscripts,

Uphold transparency in all editorial processes according to the journal's editorial policy.

Note: The section editor structure is not merely symbolic; it is an active process that strengthens academic content and ensures adherence to publication ethics in each submission.

Conclusion and General Principles
The primary aim of the Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences, Siirt University, is to offer a reliable, scientific, and open-access publishing platform at both national and international levels. Editors play a decisive role in achieving this goal. All editors must perform their duties with academic impartiality, ethical sensitivity, and a commitment to scientific excellence, thereby sustaining the academic reputation of the journal.