Editorial Guidelines

Overview

Synergy: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies upholds the highest standards of editorial integrity, academic independence, and scholarly quality. The journal follows the procedures and flowcharts recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when handling ethical concerns and disputes.

These guidelines define the roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes governing editorial management.

1. Editorial Governance and Structure

The journal operates under a transparent editorial hierarchy to ensure accountability and quality.

Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief holds ultimate responsibility for the academic quality and integrity of the journal. The Editor-in-Chief oversees the peer review process, ensures compliance with ethical standards, and makes final decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief

The Deputy Editor-in-Chief supports the Editor-in-Chief in managing editorial operations, coordinating the peer review workflow, and ensuring consistency in editorial decisions.

Editors

Handle submissions in their areas, coordinate peer review, evaluate reports, and recommend decisions to the Editor-in-Chief.

View full Editorial Team & Affiliations →

External Reviewers

External reviewers are independent subject experts with relevant academic expertise, selected based on their qualifications and publication record, who evaluate manuscripts through a double-blind peer review process and provide objective scholarly feedback.

2. Editorial Independence & Integrity

Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, including originality, methodological rigor, relevance to the journal’s scope, and clarity of presentation.

The editorial team operates independently of the publisher, sponsors, or commercial interests. The publisher does not influence editorial decisions.

Manuscripts submitted by editors are handled by independent editors or guest editors to ensure impartial evaluation.

3. Confidentiality

Editors and reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential. Unpublished material must not be used for personal research or advantage without the author's consent.

4. Conflict of Interest

Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect their editorial judgment.

If an editor has a conflict of interest—such as collaboration with the authors, institutional affiliation, or financial relationships—they must recuse themselves from handling the manuscript.

The manuscript will then be assigned to another independent editor.

5. Manuscript Evaluation Process

Initial Screening

  • Relevance to journal scope
  • Originality and scholarly quality
  • Compliance with submission guidelines
  • Plagiarism screening using tools such as iThenticate

Manuscripts failing criteria may be desk-rejected.

Peer Review

Double-blind review by at least two independent experts.

Editorial Decision

Final decision by Editor-in-Chief based on reviewer reports. Outcomes include:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revisions
  • Major Revisions
  • Reject

6. Appeals & Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions with a formal, evidence-based explanation. Appeals and complaints regarding editorial conduct or publication ethics are investigated in accordance with the procedures recommended by the COPE procedures.

7. Ethical Oversight

The editorial team is responsible for identifying and addressing research misconduct, including:

  • Plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Duplicate publication
  • Unethical research practices

Investigations are conducted in accordance with COPE guidelines and may involve communication with authors, reviewers, and affiliated institutions where necessary.