Editorial Responsibilities

Editors at Trends in Computer Science and Information Technology (TCSIT) play a critical role in ensuring the integrity, quality, and ethical standards of the journal. Their responsibilities encompass manuscript evaluation, peer review management, ethical oversight, and maintaining editorial independence. The following guidelines define the core responsibilities of editors.

▪ Ensuring Fair and Unbiased Manuscript Evaluation

Editors must assess each submission based on its scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Evaluation should be:

  • Objective and Fair: Decisions must be based solely on research quality, free from discrimination related to gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, or other biases.
  • Transparent and Justified: Rejection or acceptance decisions should be communicated clearly with supporting explanations.
  • Aligned with Journal Scope: Editors must ensure submissions match the thematic focus and research standards of TCSIT.

▪ Managing the Peer-Review Process

Editors oversee the double-blind peer review process, ensuring its fairness, efficiency, and confidentiality. Responsibilities include:

  • Reviewer Selection: Assigning qualified, independent, and unbiased reviewers based on expertise.
  • Ensuring Constructive Feedback: Reviews should be detailed, professional, and aimed at improving manuscript quality.
  • Monitoring Review Timeliness: Editors should ensure timely completion of reviews and follow up with reviewers when necessary.
  • Handling Reviewer Conflicts of Interest: Ensuring that reviewers do not have conflicts with the authors or research topic.

▪ Maintaining Ethical Standards

Editors must uphold ethical publishing practices by addressing potential misconduct and ensuring compliance with guidelines set by organizations such as COPE. Ethical responsibilities include:

  • Plagiarism and Data Integrity Checks: Verifying originality through tools like iThenticate and addressing data manipulation concerns.
  • Confidentiality Assurance: Protecting the anonymity of authors and reviewers throughout the review process.
  • Addressing Research Misconduct: Taking action in cases of fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or ethical violations.
  • Corrections and Retractions: Ensuring the journal publishes corrections or retractions when necessary.

▪ Editorial Independence and Transparency

Editors must make independent and unbiased decisions, free from external influence. Responsibilities include:

  • Avoiding Institutional or Financial Influence: Editorial decisions must not be affected by financial relationships, sponsorships, or institutional affiliations.
  • Ensuring Transparency: Editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their decision-making.
  • Providing Clear Editorial Policies: Communicating submission guidelines, review criteria, and publication procedures transparently to authors.

▪ Decision-Making and Communication

Editors are responsible for making final decisions on manuscripts and effectively communicating them to authors. This process should be:

  • Consistent and Fair: Decisions should align with journal policies and peer reviewer recommendations.
  • Professional and Constructive: Feedback should be respectful and guide authors toward improving their manuscripts.
  • Timely: Editors must ensure a smooth and efficient editorial process without unnecessary delays.

▪ Conflict of Interest Policy

Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest and take appropriate steps to prevent bias. Situations that may lead to conflicts include:

  • Institutional Affiliation: Editors should not handle manuscripts submitted by colleagues from their institution.
  • Personal or Professional Relationships: Editors must recuse themselves from handling submissions from close collaborators or competitors.
  • Financial or Political Influence: Editors should not make decisions influenced by funding sources or political pressures.

▪ Handling Complaints and Appeals

Editors must have a clear procedure for handling author complaints and appeals. This includes:

  • Reviewing Appeals Fairly: Authors have the right to request reconsideration of editorial decisions.
  • Investigating Ethical Complaints: Editors must respond to allegations of unethical conduct promptly.
  • Ensuring Transparency: All disputes should be handled professionally and documented properly.

▪ Continuous Editorial Development

Editors should engage in ongoing professional development to stay informed about the latest publishing standards and ethical guidelines. Recommended activities include:

  • Attending Editorial Workshops: Training sessions on best practices in peer review and journal management.
  • Networking with the Research Community: Engaging with academic societies and attending conferences.
  • Keeping Updated on Publication Ethics: Staying informed about evolving ethical and legal standards in scholarly publishing.

Editorial responsibilities at TCSIT extend beyond manuscript handling to ensuring academic integrity, ethical publishing, and transparent decision-making. By adhering